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COPYHIC.HT l)El*OSIT. 



WORKABLE PLANS FOR 
WIDE-AWAKE CHURCHES 



■By- 
CHRISTIAN f; REISNER, D. D 

Pastor of 

Grace Methodist Episcopal Church 

Denver, Colorado 




CINCINNATI: JENNINGS AND GRAHAM 
NEW YORK: EATON AND MAINS 



<^^ 



LIBRARY tf CONGRESS 

Two Copies lltceived 
SEP 26 1906 

/Ctpyncnt Entry 

CLASS/// XXc.Nfl 
' COPY B. / 



COPYRIGHT, 1906, BY 
JENNINGS AND GRAHAM 



V 

^ 



To our 

Fathers in Pulpit and Pew 

Who Laid 

Broad and Deep Foundations 

for the 

Glorious "NOW" 



CONTENTS 

Chapter Page 

I. Training and Teaching in the 

Sunday-school, - - - - 21 

II. Organizing the Sunday-school 

FOR Results, - - . - 41 

III. The Church Caring for the 

Children, 61 

IV. Young People Organized for Serv- 

ice, - 89 

V. The Downtown Church at 

Work, 116 

VI. Successful Sunday Evening Serv- 
ices, 132 

VII. Midweek Prayer Service: In- 
terest AND Profit, - - 152 

5 



Contents 



Chapter Page 

VIII. Advertising the Church and Its 

Services, 166 

IX. Winning and Working the Men, 200 

X. Calling and Christian Cordial- 
ity, - - - - - - 216 

[_ XI. Revival, Efforts Bring Results, 232 

XII. Money for the Church and Al- 
lied Interests, - - - 259 

XIII. Methods for Arousing Mission- 

ary Interest, - - - - 281 

XIV. Miscellaneous Matters, - - 300 

Church Membership, Clubs, Wo- 
man's Organizations, etc. 

Index, - - 323 



INTRODUCTION. 

"Workable Plans for Wide-awake Churches" comes Onain oi 
out of the reading, thinking, correspondence, and experience 
of a busy city pastor, who falls far below his own ideal. 
God has honored and blessed the use of many plans here 
given. Large joy and some fruitage have come from their 
use. Two years ago the president of the Ministerial Alli- 
ance of Denver, Rev. J. H. Houghton, Rector of St. Mark's 
Episcopal Church, without consulting the author assigned 
him a paper on the subject of Modern Church Plans. By 
the vote of the Alliance the paper was printed and over two 
hundred copies engaged by the members. A few Eastern 
papers secured and reviewed the pamphlet, and requests came 
by mail until a second edition was exhausted. A number of 
men with successful records made an earnest request that the 
pamphlet be enlarged into a book. After many fears and 
some hesitation, their words led to the task and the book 
came into shape. It is far from ideal, but it has some signs 
of being practical. 

All plans for religious work must be fitted to the local "Haste" 
community. The pastor who said, "I usually try everything ^""^^ 
I hear of, if I have a place for it in my field," has the right 
attitude. Some conservative Churches may hesitate, but 
kindly and careful conferences will win the Governing 
Boards over to a trial, at least, and this will open the w^y 
for future activity. Though it is a hard lesson for some of 
us to learn, yet in making innovations of any sort we must 
"make haste slowly." 



Introduction 



John The Church of varied plans has grown much more rap- 
^^^^idly than any other sort. John Wesley, even in his day, 
was an innovator. He preached In graveyards, standing on 
the foundation of the past and looking Into the future, and 
In foundries carrying the gospel to the unchurched masses. 
He practiced medicine, even to the opening of a dispensary; 
spoke and wrote on political subjects; was a theologian, a 
grammar text-book compiler, and a peddler of books. 

Work the It Is unwise to spend all time and strength on new plans. 
It Is better to work one than evolve tw^enty. The methods 
should be no more prominent than the skeleton, of a sermon 
or the ribs of a man. They must all bend to one end, the 
making of men righteous In every relation of life, by Intro- 
ducing them to Christ, the King and Savior of mankind. 
Without this end In view our work will be In vain, and the 
result as an ashed home. With this goal In view, and with- 
out "dabbling" In anything else, we should spend and be 
spent until, with Paul, we may bear In our body the "marks 
of the Lord Jesus," and declare that we have "fought a good 
fight" and have kept the faith. 
Endure With all our knowing we must know ourselves, God, 

pat.enty^^j thc pcoplc ; thcn lovingly, kindly, trustfully, and confi- 
dently go forward. Be prepared for, but unmoved by, criti- 
cism. Be ready for, but never angered or unbalanced by, 
opposition. It Is sad, but true, that success creates a jealousy 
that gives disheartening blows; but 

"Jest do yer best, an' praise er blame 
That f oilers, that counts jest the same. 
I 've allers noticed great success 
Is mixed with troubles more or less. 
An' it 's the man who does his best, 
Et gits more kicks than all the rest." 

One pastor writes: "Our motto Is — 'Keep sweet and 
keep a "movin" ' in unbroken harmony and co-operation, 

8 



Introduction 



mutual concessions, and no quarrels. Brotherly love Is a 
Church's richest asset." 

Let these words of Phillips Brooks speak to you from a 
framed card on the study wall until peace calms and steadies 
in every storm : 

"Here Is my work to do, not to worry over. My work 
I say; but If I can know that It is not my work but God's, 
should I not cast away my restlessness, even while I worked 
on more faithfully and untiringly than ever?" 

The Informed, well-balanced man will in no wise min- The Fathers' 
imize the work or the methods of our fathers. Only alert- 
ness, steady, hard work, and a fine adaptation to the times 
and surroundings in which we live will make It possible to 
equal them. The pioneers In pulpit and pew laid broad, 
deep, splendid foundations for the future. They saw the 
pattern In the Mount and started God's building on a 
grander scale than Solomon ever dreamed of. We must 
push It on to completion. It Is the sign of smallness to talk 
about the mistakes, narrowness, and weakness of the fathers. 
It shows a poor conception of their times and tasks. In pro- 
posing new plans and speaking of the strenuous days now 
upon us, there is Intended no reflection on other times. The 
Revolutionary days, the time when circuit-riding pioneers 
shoved out across trackless plains and over precipitous moun- 
tain trails, enduring hunger, cold, deprivation, and loss; 
the Civil War testings, — those were strenuous days that all 
but put to shame the hardest work of to-day's pastors. 

Success is in the reach of every consecrated minister, s. 
He can pray for and expect sheaves If he Is God's sent-out 
laborer. If there Is no harvest, either the sower Is using 
the wrong seed or Is not In the right field. The promise is 
clear and positive, "My Word shall not return unto Me 
void." 

"To be as good as our fathers we must be better." It is 



uccess 
possible 



Introduction 



the same with success. The past century has witnessed won- 
Chanaes derful changes in every line. Almost everything is done 
differently. Solomon's declaration, There is "no new thing 
under the sun," is true concerning primal elements, but not 
concerning outward forms. Cotton and wool and linen will 
always form the basis for clothing, but the methods of rais- 
ing and preparation and the styles and shapes are different. 
Compare the first Baltimore & Ohio Railroad engine, with its 
water barrel tank, with one of the present mountain climbers. 
Contrast the newspaper, giving an account of Washington's 
death, with a metropolitan sheet of to-day. Search out a 
scientific text-book of thirty years ago and place it beside 
one used now by a fourteen-year-old boy. Read one of 
Jonathan Edwards's or John Wesley's sermons, and compare 
their putting of truth In the blazing words of a literal hell- 
fire with the modern presentation. Men yet remember the 
rarity of a new book or magazine or any other strong counter 
attraction to the Church. 
Preacher's The unschoolcd clrcuIt-rlder was the newspaper, maga- 
prominence ^.^^^ encyclopasdia, and faith- former for his congregation. 
The preacher could consume two or three hours with one 
sermon and have a crowded house. New England talked 
theology as freely and generally as Colorado did free silver 
a few years ago. There was no salvation outside of accord 
with a certain stated form of doctrine, for most people, and 
certainly none for those who did not profess faith In the his- 
torical Christ. The Church, as the repository of truth, was 
influential and indispensable. It dealt positively and almost 
solely with the future life. Righteousness as such, and 
present world conditions commanded little attention. Even 
in abolition New England a pulpit slave-opposer was charged 
with preaching politics and was discharged. 
Message The attltudc of religion toward the world has altered, 
changed ^^^^ of coursc, the position and work of the Church is 

10 



Introduction 



changed. As Josfah Strong, in his book, "Religious Move- 
ments for Social Betterment," declares, the emphasis has 
changed from the salvation of the ''soul to that of the man." 
Once, religion w^as defined as ''right feelings growling out of 
right relations to God." The minister had nothing to say 
about dirty faces, bare backs, empty stomachs, but only about 
saving the soul. He mentions three things contributing to 
bring this about: 

First. Civilization has changed from the Individualistic 
to the social. 

Second. Science has demonstrated the Interdependence of 
body and mind and the Influence of physical conditions on 
the spiritual life. 

Third. It Is nov^^ understood that the kingdom of God 
has to do w^ith this world and is to be realized here. 

He further points out that the change is manifested by Different 
four signs. First. A different church architecture; gym- 
nasium, parlors, class-rooms, swimming pools, etc., are now 
added. Second. The practical application of religion to 
every-day affairs; and. Third. The success of these plans 
in getting a new hold of the multitude that was drifting 
away from the Church. Fourth. The Churches no longer 
emphasizing formal creeds, but social cures, find themselves 
practically agreed as to ^ethod, and so are coming closer 
together. 

In igo2. Dr. Strong predicted In "The Next Great Revival 
Awakening" a glorious revival, in which the emphasis would fulfilled" 
be placed on righteousness. He was an optimistic prophet, 
for since then Philadelphia has been liberated, Missouri set 
free from the bosses, and the corporations that grasp and 
crush have been checked. A thousand similar tasks have been 
undertaken and accomplished. The Churches are filling up. 
Every denomination Is showing splendid annual increases In 
membership, and revivals are popular In all the land. The 

II 



Introduction 



pessimists are losing caste and are hunting darkness to hide 
in. The night fleeth away, the day is at hand, and the King 
draweth nigh. "Lift up your heads, O ye gates: and be ye 
lift up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall 
come in." 
The Church's Times have changed. The Church has lost its traditional 

authority 

position. It must prove its power and divinity by its fruits. 
But this is Jesus's method. He answered personal inquiries 
by declaring that if any man would do His will "he should 
know of the doctrine." "By their fruits ye shall know 
them." Claims and history do not give authority. We 
must by our work prove our right to support and existence. 
Hence our theology must fit and bear the strains of every- 
day life. It must meet man and help him in every condition 
and place. 
Credit to The world has adopted Christ's standards, but is now 
backward about giving Him the credit. We must go out in 
the "highways and hedges and compel them" to come into the 
feast where He is crowned King. Then the battle is won. 
The banishment of the old, artificial separation between the 
secular and the sacred is a blessing. When men learn that it 
is not only necessary but possible to do all things in the 
"name of the Lord Jesus," religion will be recognized as 
everywhere practicable. 

Church Methods, like a body, must have life, If effective. They 
can not be "Church methods" unless they are purposed and 
fitted for the expression of Christ's life and spirit. Too 
many methods are as cumbrous as too much baggage in 
European travel. They must fit the man as David's sling, 
and not Saul's armor, did him. They must be centralized — 
shot peppers, but a bullet pierces. 

Church A pastor should be the general, no matter how many 
assistants are employed or organizations utilized. Rev. F. B. 
Meyer is president of every organization in his Church. 

12 



Introduction 



This is not necessary or wise. The tactful pastor can keep 
himself at the heart of things. He should understand and 
direct all the machinery. It is sad to see so many pastors 
hampered by poverty. Men must recognize the right of the 
Church to their support. Everybody Is benefited by the 
Church, as they are by a city, country, or State government. 
In fact, these organizations are futile without the Church. 
In this busy day, with its wide demands, it is unfair not Pastor's 
to give the ordinary city pastor paid assistants. The men 
who are bringing things to pass have this sort of help. 
Ruggles Street Baptist Church, Boston, has three associate 
pastors, and eleven other paid assistants. Professor Thwing, 
in "The Working Church," contends that every Church 
with more than three hundred members ought to have an 
assistant. 

A number of pastors whose names w^ere furnished by Pastors 
denominational Church papers were written to and asked 
fourteen questions. These men are frequently quoted in 
the body of the book without designating either their city or 
Church. Those who replied were: 

From the Presbyterians. — Rev. Wilton Merle Smith, of 
Central Church, New York City; Rev. John D. Counter- 
mine, Philadelphia; Rev. Clelland B. McAfee, Lafayette 
Avenue, New York City; Rev. Charles Stelze; Rev. Paul 
B. Jenkins, Linwood Avenue, Kansas City; Rev. John T. 
Faris, Markham Memorial, St. Louis; Rev. George C. 
Peck, Elm Park, Chicago. 

From the Congregationalists. — Rev. W. A. Bartlett, 
First Chuich, Chicago; Rev. John Faville, Peoria, 111.; 
Rev. Frederick T. Rouse, Appleton, Wis.; Rev. Henry H. 
Preedy, Bridgeport, Conn.; Rev. F. E. R. Miller, Grand 
Forks, N. D. ; Rev. Charles Luther Kloss, Central Church, 
Philadelphia; Rev. Warren H. Day, First Church, Los An- 

13 



Introduction 



geles, Cal.; Rev. Dr. Strong, Second Church, Oak Park, 
Chicago. 

From the Episcopalians. — Rev. Benjamin Brewster, Salt 
Lake City; Rev. B. V. VanKleek, White Plains, N. Y. ; 
Rev. John Henry Hopkins, Church of the Epiphany, Chi- 
cago; Rev. John Wright, St. Paul, Minn. 

From the Baptists. — Rev. J. W. Brougher, Portland, 
Oregon; Rev. W. B. Hinson, San Diego, Cal.; Rev. M. P. 
Boynton, Lexington Avenue, Chicago; Rev. A. C. Dixon, 
Ruggles Street, Boston; Rev. Courtlandt Myers, Baptist 
Temple, Brooklyn. 

FroTTi the Christian Church. — Rev. F. N. Calvin, St. 
Louis, Mo. ; Rev. A. B. Philputt, First, Indianapolis ; Rev. 
H. H. Moniger, Cincinnati, Ohio; Rev. C. R. Scoville, 
Chicago, 111. ; Rev. R. L. Thrapp, Jacksonville, 111. ; Rev. 
E. L. Powell, Louisville, Ky. ; and Rev. J. M. Philputt, 
St. Louis. 

From the Methodists. — Rev. C. B. Mitchell, First, 
Cleveland; Rev. W. F. Sheridan, Baltimore, Md. ; Rev. 
Naptali Luccock, St. Louis; Rev. W. P. Odell, Calvary, 
New York City ; Rev. Charles L. Goodell, New York City ; 
Rev. P. H. Swift, Chicago; Rev. George P. Eckman, St. 
Paul's, New York City; Rev. Dillon Bronson, St. Mark's, 
Boston; Rev. D. G. Downey, St. John's, Brooklyn; and 
Rev. Robert Mclntyre, First, Los Angeles. 

From the Methodist Church, South. — Rev. J. W. Lee, 
Trinity, Atlanta, Ga. ; and Rev. C. H. Briggs, Mar- 
shall, Mo. 
Methods The first question propounded was: "Is it necessary for 
the modern pastor to study and utilize methods?" Here 
are some of the answers: "Most certainly." "Yes, as for 
the agriculturalist." "Yes, incessantly and with readiness 

14 



necessary 



Introduction 



to discard and to adapt." ''Yes, but, as the Irishman wrote 
to his girl, 'Yours with discretion.' " "Most certainly — a 
good current of consecrated business system should run 
through all this w^ork." "I think so as In all effective work; 
not of course slavishly nor unspirltually." "Yes, if he will 
remember that a method is only a way for doing things." 
"Yes, emphatically." "If he wants things to move." "He 
must have methods, even as the architect has his plans." 
"Very decidedly." "Methods should be adapted to needs In 
view." "Most certainly." 

A request w^as sent to seventy-five pastors and to a num- Peninene 
ber of publishers for the names of any helpful books on 
Church methods. Very few were discovered by this means. 
The author finally succeeded in collecting a library of over 
fifty books related in one way or another to the subjects 
treated here. All these and a few more have been sifted in 
the search for wheat. This library has been accumulating 
for three years, and judgment and trial were used in dis- 
covering the best plans. There are many splendid books 
on the Sunday-school, but the other departments are neither 
widely nor fully treated. 

Churches are Increasingly run on a business basis ; hence Paid helper 
they do not expect the minister alone to manage the complex 
details of the modern Church. 

One question was: How many paid assistants have you, 
and what are their duties? Rev. J. W. Brougher: "Have 
one paid assistant (stenographer and Sunday-school mission- 
ary). Had seven in Paterson, N. J. Have just as many 
as your Church can afford." Rev. Mr. Wright: "One gen- 
eral assistant." Rev. W. M. Smith: "One in home Church, 
two In missions." Rev. Courtlandt Myers: "Six in all de- 
partments." Rev. Charles Stelze: "When in charge of a 
Church two regular, five giving part of time." Rev. W. F. 
Sheridan: "One." Rev. M. P. Boynton: "Kindergarten 

^5 



Introduction 



director." Rev. C. B. Mitchell: "Deaconess." Rev. C. B. 
McAfee: ''Woman caller and mission pastor." Rev. W. A. 
Bartlett: ''Two. In my judgment such assistants are Indis- 
pensable to the modern Church, and business men should be 
made to see that It Is the only way to conduct the Church." 
Rev. F. Rouse: "Lady assistants for office; poor economy 
for any Church to go without." Rev. Naptall Luccock: 
"Three — all women — deaconesses." Rev. W. P. Odell: 
"Two deaconesses — financial secretary and assistant pastor, 
who Is superintendent of the Sunday-school." Rev. A. C. 
Dixon: "Three associate pastors and eleven other paid as- 
sistants." Rev. Dillon Bronson: "I pay a theological stu- 
dent and call him assistant pastor. He Is superintendent of 
the Sunday-school, and gives time to the boys." Rev. J. M. 
Phllputt: "I have one pastor's assistant." Rev. George C. 
Peck: "Have paid associate pastor and one deaconess." Rev. 
C. R. ScovIUe: "Have pastoral assistant and chorister who 
drills chorus choir and leads In all Church music." Rev. 
W. H. Day: "Two pastors, Church visitor." Rev. George 
P. Eckman: "Secretary who Is stenographer and general 
helper, deaconess who attends to all duties Incident to that 
office." Rev. J. T. Fans: "Two Church visitors; one of 
them Is at the head of the primary department: the other Is 
in charge of organization work. Two gymnasium Instruct- 
ors, one for men and one for women. Two choir directors; 
also cooking teacher and several others who do only a little 
work." Rev. Dr. Strong: "A private secretary, a missionary 
secretary (special work to keep In touch with all mission 
study and reading classes, and keep In touch with organiza- 
tions of young people's mission work), Sunday-3chool and 
visitor. All three of these assistants are women." Rev. 
H. H. Monlger: "Three, sometimes four; two or three 
being pastors of mission branches, one being a stenographer 
and general helper, called 'Church Secretary.' " Rev. Robert 

j6 



Introduction 



Mclntyre: "One pastor's assistant, one deaconess, and one 
fiscal overseer who looks after financial matters." 

Traits of the Pastor 

The pastor himself must, first of all, be a man. The Manliness 
"holy tone," the "preacherified" attitude, the seeking of 
special prerogatives because of position, must be avoided. In 
Spurgeon's "Lectures to My Students" we find the follow- 
ing: "There Is such a thing as trying to be too much a minis- 
ter and becoming too little a man." "The vice of the minis- 
try Is that ministers will 'parsonlficate' the ministry." 

A company of selected laboring men, gathered In New "Garb" 
York, discussed the Church and the preacher. One ap- 
proved spokesman said, concerning the garb and position of 
the preacher: "The real appeal Is In the man himself, 
whether or not he Is agreeable and companionable." Of the 
seventy-five present only two, on a vote, believed that the 
minister should wear a distinctive garb. Nevertheless there 
must be dignity, posltlveness, and authority. As Beecher 
says, we must know the way and act, for many people when 
consulted will Invarlr.bly oppose a thing. Washington Glad- 
den In "The Christian Pastor," gives the qualifications for Qualifications 
the minister as follows: "(a) Preaching ability — the power 
of pushing truths home to the heart, (b) Social gifts — 
having the qualities which Inspire not only respect, but confi- 
dence and affection, (c) A deep Christian experience which 
gives a sincere message. (d) Organizing and leadership 
talents." 

The Brooklyn Eagle summarizes the answers of a sym- Symposium 
posium to Its question, "How can ministers reach men?" 
in this condensed form: "By personal contact. By being a 
living example of their preaching. By being men them- 
selves. By a wise, forceful, and attractive presentation of 
the old gospel." Rev. Paul B. Jenkins gives his articles of 

2 17 



Introduction 



faith In regard to the work of the ministry as follows: 
Friendly" I. Bc the best possible friend of every person in one's 
Church. 2. Never regard the office of pastor as that of a 
superior, dictator, or anything save a co-worker with the 
people for Christ. 3. Try to preach the gospel so as to make 
it interesting." . 

"Comfort- Dr. John Watson, whose pen name, Ian MacLaren, has 
made him known throughout the world, retiring from the 
active ministry after a long pastorate in Sefton Park Presby- 
terian Church, Liverpool, and speaking of his work as a 
minister said: "If I were beginning instead of closing my 
career, I would be careful about three things in particular: 
I should preach shorter sermons; I should be more attentive 
to my English; and I should preach more comfortingly." 

Prize ciefi- The following was rewarded first prize among many 
replies to the question, "What makes a Good Pastor?" It 
was sent in by Rev. J. Elmer Russell, of Cape Vincent, 
N. Y. : "To be profoundly religious without a trace of 
sanctimoniousness; to live by faith in the unseen, while glad 
to be alive and to work in the world of the seen; to keep 
the inner light aglow by Bible study, meditation, and prayer; 
to be like Christ, trustful and serene, joyful in self-sacrifice, 
persistent, and optimistic; to be a translator of the eternal 
Gospel in the language of the present, clothing clear thought 
with imagination and sending it home to the hearts of men 
with earnestness and love; to be the friend of all, respecting 
their personalities, and appealing to the nobler side of their 
natures; helpful, but not officious; energetic, yet free from 
self-importance; a guide not only to fellowship with Christ, 
but to a world-wide service of men; to know the best that 
has been thought and felt and done; studying history as the 
record of God's unfolding plaft, feeling through poetry the 
best of the universal heart, seeking ever in books for knowl- 
edge, insight, stimulus, and power ; in short, the qualifications 

J8 



Introduction 



city 
pastorates 



for the Ideal minister are to be near to God, near to the 
people, and near to books." 

Rev. G. A. Miller, in ''Problems of the Town Church," Plans gener- 
says that four-fifths of the literature of the Church does not ° ^ "" " 
fit the town Church. Zionj Herald, in reviewing a book of 
Church methods, said : "But the ordinary pastor in a small 
village or country Church will probably feel that there is not 
much in it which he can utilize." Men are much the same 
in country and city. We must "compel" them, if they come 
to the "feast." Sin -must be attacked on every side if it is 
put to rout. Pastors employ every bait, if successful fishers 
of men. Scores of pastors are filling Clfurches aforetime 
empty In our towns by getting out of the rut and employing 
"brand" new plans. 

It is strange how young men long for a city Church. Seei«ing 
It Is, doubtless, the product of a worthy ambition. It 
is a misleading longing. In the city they contribute 
a vtry small drop to public sentiment, but are touching 
instead a temporary moving procession. In a town the 
minister deals with the same people and handles the material 
regularly enough to mold it and make himself potently felt. 
When the mettle of the heart and head is tempered and the 
town Church position Is filled full, one of the many search- 
ing city Churches will find the man who has made the town 
Church a success. Pure ability to bring things to pass in 
the Church counts as never before. It will cover a multitude ^ 
of defects. The town and even circuit pastor will find that 
It pays to use new and varied plans to arouse and win people 
to Christ and His Church. Numerous new methods can be 
undertaken by smaller Churches. A thorough-going trial 
will prove the plan's efficiency or failure. If there are enough 
people in the community to fill the church, every manner of FuII 
legitimate means ought to be employed until the church is *" "'^'^ ' 
filled, or efforts of pastor or both have been exhausted. We 

19 



Introduction 



dare not sit in idleness or waste time with excuses. The 
Test for "igh^ Cometh when no man can work. Dr. L. A. Banks, 
^'^"^ in speaking of a criticism on a brother pastor for using un- 
usual methods for getting a Sunday night audience, said: 
"I could not use those methods. They are against my na- 
ture, but there is no innate harm in them. If a man succeeds 
in the best sense, then we have no right to criticise his plans." 
Some theological students once listened to an evangelist 
• critically. They came back to tell the Professor of Homi- 
letics that he could not preach at all. "He just said. Come, 
Come, Come." The professor asked, "Did they come to 
Christ?" The students answered, "Yes." Then said the 
professor, "He was a successful preacher." So the value 
of our exertions is measured by the way they win, and if they 
have this stamp, we can thank God and .take courage. 



20 



CHAPTER I. 

Training and Teaching in the Sunday- 
School. 

The Right Leaders 

Eighty-three per cent of the communicant members importance 
of the Church are received from the Sunday-school. This 
means not only that they will lenghten the membership 
roll, but that they will determine the character, intelligence, 
and w^ork of the Church. It is, therefore, vitally important 
that close, constant, and competent attention be given to 
this department of work. 

A few Churches have thoroughly furnished superin- The superin 
tendents who can give the requisite amount of time to *" ^" . 
the Sunday-school. Fortunate, indeed, is the pastor of 
that Church. Other Churches are now employing an 
assistant to give all of his time as superintendent of the 
school. Ruggles Street Baptist Church, Boston, with 1,500 
scholars, the largest in New England, gives the superintend- 
ent $2,500 a year, and furnishes him three paid assistants, 
who devote their time exclusively to this work. Calvary 
Methodist Episcopal Church, New York City, hires a super- 
intendent, and then puts $1,600 and $1,700 a year into the 
school. But the mass of the Churches must choose as super- 
intendent a business man loaded with personal burdens and 
so competent that a number of other Church offices are put 
on his shoulders. (The Sunday-school superintendent should 
refuse to hold any other office in the Church.) Under these The pastor 
circumstances much will devolve upon the pastor. At all 
hazards he must see to it that his Sunday-school is a success. 

21 



Workable Plans for Wide-Awake Churches 

He need not be officious, and yet he must be much in evi- 
dence. The market is full of books of great value because 
of their practical suggestlveness. Familiarity with the best 
is an absolute necessity. 

Co-operatioD Aftcr reading the "method" books loan them to teachers 
and officers. No school can be a success w^ithout the closest 
possible sympathy between the pastor and superintendent. 
It seems impossible that there should be a pastor fit to hold 
a Church who is not interested in the Sunday-school. Jesus 
had time for the children when pressing problems led the 
disciples to crowd them back. In the shadow of the cross 
He drew out their joyous shouts of welcome. It will be 
hard to know or talk much about the traits of heavenly cit- 
izens if we do not mingle with the ''of such." Children 
cultivate love, and thus make it easier to love sinning man. 

Conversion in Profcssor Coc and Dr. Starbuck found that the average 
age of conversion for 1,784 cases collected from various 
walks of life and sections of the country was 16.4 years. 
Not many people are won to Christ after childhood, and 
when they are, scars mark them and clumsiness hinders their 
usefulness. For his own spiritual sake, as well as effectiveness 
and for the sake of the growing Church and spreading Inter- 
ests of the kingdom, the alert pastor will be in the school, 
know about schools, and carry scholars', teachers, and officers 
on his heart and up to God in prayer. 
Training Mr. Mcad opens his book, "Modern Methods of Sun- 
day-school Work," with the words: "We are 'In the midst 
of one of the mightiest religious revivals that has ever 
grasped the world." He Is led to make the statement after 
a study of the thorough, wide-reaching, and successful Sun- 
day-school methods employed all over America. To-mor- 
row's Church will be larger, stronger, more Intelligent, and 
aggressive than to-day's. This will be so because of the sys- 
tematic training being given the children. 

22 



Training and Teaching in the Sunday-School 

A short time ago the author visited a class in a primary "Primary" 
department at Springfield, 111., which answered questions ''°"'^^*' 
concerning the Bible and the Church that would puzzle 
ninety out of every one hundred adults in the Church. Al- 
most without exception successful pastors in every section of 
the country wrote back when asked, "We have a graded 
school." That means a definite course of study and definite 
requirements and attention in class. Professor G. A. Coe, Gods child 
in a recent article in the Central Christian Advocate (June 
6, 1906), says: "Every child starts life as God's child. But 
God must be revealed to him, In part, just as earthly 
parenthood must be, by external means. Child-nurture in 
religion is true chlld-evangellsm. Our losses because we 
have not brought this gospel to the children of the Church 
are frightful." No teacher is fitted to fill her position with- Christ's 
out a living vision, of Christ and a purpose to show it in "^'°° 
the face and life so that the pupils may love Him. The 
school that does not seek to win the personal loyalty of the 
pupils to Christ, has no right to wear the name Christian. 
As never before these facts are recognized. It was no Inf re- oid views 
quent event a few years ago to hear fathers and mothers 
moan and pray over the unrepentant state of the pure, sweet, 
wide-eyed boy or girl. Dr. Channing tells of his nights of 
terror after seeing a minister Illustrate with a burning match 
how he and other boys and girls not "converted" would 
burn in hell forever. A State Supreme Justice told the 
author a short time ago that In early j^outh he was driven 
away from the Church by the "story that some babies went 
to hell." Those days, thank God! are gone. This Is God's 
meridian time, when the world sees the Father's face full- 
orbed. 

The butterfly, "sweet thing," who Is just "aching" to Lightweights 
teach, is more and more left In this uncomfortable state, 
until she learns how to teach. The serious, but happy, 

23 



Workable Plans for Wlde-Awake Churches 

bright, and cheerful teacher, who studies lessons, pupils, 
and methods. Is alone In great demand. This is the best 
hour the Sunday-school has seen. 

How do you build up your Sunday-School? 

As stated in the Introduction, a number of pastors In 
various sections of the country were sent letters, which many 
of them courteously answered, amidst other pressing duties. 
One question propounded was, "How do you build up your 
Sunday-school?" The replies follow: 

Rev. W. B. HInson: "Comparative tables for former 
year and Sunday are useful." Rev. John Wright: "Society 
for the education of teachers — demanding that the Sunday- 
school lesson be learned In advance. By calling any class 
without notice into my library and finding out what they 
know." Rev. W. A. Bartlett: "Have a graded school with 
examinations." Rev. J. W. Brougher: "Organize the dif- 
ferent classes." Rev. J. H. Hopkins: "Junior Brotherhood 
look up absent boys. Have children's parties two or three 
times a year and a good Sunday-school picnic." Rev. A. C. 
Dixon : "We have a children's choir of fifty." Rev. N. Luc- 
cock: "Some of our ablest men and women teach in the 
school. I do not teach much; when I do, prefer to supply, 
thus touch school at various points." Rev. Benjamin Brew- 
ster: "I seek above all to have consecutive and regular teach- 
ers. I have a weekly Bible class to help the teachers 
(two-thirds of them attend)." Rev. J. D. Countermine: 
"Hold meetings for teachers in connection with mid- 
week service. Hold meeting of officers and teachers for 
conference and prayer once a month." Rev. C. Myers: "We 
are not against giving rewards for faithful service." Rev. 
M. P. Boynton: "Put the girls against the boys to secure 
new scholars, the losers to give a party to the winners. 
Class organization is quite general." Rev. W. F. Sheridan: 

24 



Training and Teaching in the Sunday-School 

"Use the post-office." Rev. P. H. Swift: "I give a book 
to every one who would bring in five new scholars. Made 
this a standing offer for a year. Have had red and blue 
contests." Pawtucket, R. I., Pastor: "By a building with 
twenty-five class-rooms, by a real Church home atmosphere." 
Rev. C. L. Kloss: ''Graded school — Blakeslee series." Rev. 
F. E. R. Miller: "The Sunday-school is graded according to 
age limit. We have a Sunday-school visitor. I do not teach, 
but do personal work in my study during the Bible-school 
hour." Rev. F. M. Stone: "We have an efficient Sunday- 
school visitor." Rev. W. H. Day: "Our school is carefully 
graded. I teach a course or two each year for different 
classes of young people." Rev. R. L. Thrapp: "Each of 
thirty-one classes is organized with a name. The school 
averages about seven hundred." Brunswick, Maine, Pastor: 
"The pastor has made a special study of the psychology and 
pedagogy of story-telling and does a lot of Sunday-school 
work in that line." Rev. Robert Mclntyre: "School gradu- 
ates its own teachers after three years' study in its own 
normal department. It is graded like a public school." 
Rev. C. R. Scoville: "Going into a contest with a neighbor- 
ing Church." Rev. J. T. Faris: "We use the stamp book 
for marking attendance." 

Selection of Teachers 

Methodist pastors follow^ing the Discipline must assist Pas 
the superinendent in choosing teachers. Peculiar informa- 
tion and discoveries come to pastor's knowledge which fits 
him with needed wisdom to help select. It is exceedingly 
difficult to get rid of a bad or even incompetent, a poorly- 
equipped, or wrong-notioned teacher. Better have one good 
teacher, says Dr. Mead, with a large class, even though this 
bring inconveniences, than three poor ones with small classes. 

25 



tor s 
advice 



Workable Plans for Wide-Awake Churches 

Committee Marloii Lawrcncc suggests that a committee, consisting 
of the pastor, general superintendent, and the superintendent 
of the department having a vacancy, select the new teacher. 
It Is v^ell to have at least three or four general workers bear 
Trial the responsibility of selection. Ruggles Street Baptist 
Church, Boston, tries every teacher with the proposed class 
for three or four Sundays to test the "fit" before final ap- 
pointment. Some one should by personal conversation im- 
press the importance of the work and put to the teacher a 
series of questions before notification of appointment Is given. 
The Congregational Sunday-school Association prepares an 
Impressive pledge to be signed by the new instructor. Other 
schools send a carefully compiled letter of Instructions, which 
also pictures the responsibility of the position. The need of 
the faithful and consecrated service must be enforced, even 
though It frightens a few out. 

Quarterly Flrst Methodlst Episcopal Church, Boise, Idaho, pro- 
vides a quarterly blank report dealing with calls made, 
teachers' meetings attended, conversions in class, and per- 
sonal attempts made to lead to decision, with a place for sug- 
gestions. This Is a splendid plan, worthy of wide imitation. 
Substitutes The substitute problem Is a big one. So many who 
might take classes fail to prepare the lesson In advance. It 
Is not always possible to have a successful normal class. 
When this does not exist, let the Bible-class study the lesson 
one Sunday In advance, for usually supplies will be picked 
up from this class. Frequently competent teachers can be 
present only two Sundays a month. Ask them to be pre- 
pared, and utilize them when there. 
Disorder All sorts of complalnts are fil^d against the work of the 
e gyfj(jay_g(.i^QQj teachers. Mr. Thurston, chief probation 
officer for the Juvenile Court of Chicago, declared in an ad- 
dress that his boys learned more mischief at Sunday-school 

26 



Training and Teaching in the Sunday-School 

than at day-school or on the streets. This Is, doubtless, a 
careless statement; nevertheless, the incompetency of teach- 
ers and the permitted disorder are grave questions that re- 
quire careful consideration. The teachers ought to feel their 
responsibility and never be allowed to hold a position for 
fear of hurting their feelings If they are a failure. A dis- 
orderly class is usually proof that the teacher is not "called" 
to teach that class, if any at all. Mr. Moody permitted 
pupils to change classes of their own accord. If a teacher 
w^as not able, by ability, to hold the pupils, she was soon Oieery 
alone. He believed that this sifted out the Incompetent. 

The "glum" teacher Is a pre-advertlsed failure. Cheerl- 
r ess wins over all obstacles. A teacher should never ac- 
knowledge or even know defeat. To be Impatient is to root 
out growing plants of truth. There is something to like in 
every pupil. A child is never really bad. He only has tend- 
encies. Love, tenderness, kindness, will warm most heart 
soils until good crowds out the weeds. Order must be in- 
sisted upon; crossness aids very little. 

Professor H. M. HamlU gives the following directions winning 
Eo to manner:" "Be natural; be friendly; be cheerful; be ""^"^ 
cordial; be tender; be patient." A few other instructions 
from this expert are mixed into the following sentences. Do 
not try to teach too much. This muddles the mind. Make 
two or three points clear. Commend members of the class 
for efficient or improved work. Treat the whole class in the 
same way. Seldom find fault. Never scold. Find some- 
thing to build up. This will supplant the "bad." Put 
proper Incentives before them; the roll of honor; the class 
standing; the day of honor and recognition before the 
school. "Capture the leaders of the class." "Make com- 
rades of your pupils, on the street, in the home, by fine 
courtesies reserved especially for them." 

27 



Workable Plans for Wide- Awake Churches 



Class Start a class library. Marion Lawrence gave a class 
"Ben Hur" for a beginning, promising them another as soon 
as all had read this book. Build a "class spirit" by every 
means available. The different pupils will then become 
hearty assistants. 

The Session Program 

New Mr. Lawrence, as superintendent, tried each week to 
""^^^ have a new feature for his Sunday-school program. A book 
was carried, holding each former order of service, which was 
studied and compared in the preparation of the new one. 
The North Baptist Sunday-school of Camden, N. J., ap- 
points a new committee every quarter to prepare the order 
of services for the different Sundays. Ruts will hinder the 
progress and break the spirit of any school. Variety adds 
vivacity, and alone suits folks as wide-awake as American 
boys and girls. 
Opening Ccntralizc the thought, and recall the place and time of 
" the opening by the quiet and prayerful repetition of some 
rich sentence. London Heights Methodist Episcopal Church, 
Kansas City, uses this as the first opening word : "The Lord 
is in His Holy Temple, let all the earth keep silence before 
Him." 
Prayer Dr. Schauffler recommends three prayers. The first 
occurs near the opening of the devotional exercises, very 
short, "not one minute in length." The second comes just 
before the study of the lesson, and is much longer and wider 
in sweep. This one "need not be more than three minutes 
long." The third prayer follows the review, and emphasizes 
the necessity of following the lesson by action. He insists 
wisely that it is important who leads the school in prayer, 
and that he should face the audience, speak clearly, and wait 
for quiet at all hazards. 

28 



Training and Teaching in the Sunday-School 

Here is a little prayer repeated In Air. Lawrence's 
Sunday-school near the opening : 

"Dear Lord, of Thee three things I pray, 
To know Thee more clearly, 
To love Thee more dearly. 
To walk more nearly every day." 

The school's aim Is also repeated In concert as follows : Aim 
"Every member present every Sunday, on time, with his own 
Bible, a liberal offering, a studied lesson, and a mind to 
learn." It Is an Impressive sight to have all the pupils hold 
up their own Bibles. 

Responsibility Is emphasized by calling all of the teachers Teachers 
to the front just before they take charge of their classes for 
a brief season of prayer together. It gives them purpose 
and lifts the school atmosphere. 

Frequently have the school read the lesson from the The readinu 
Authorized Version, while the superintendent reads the same 
verse from the American Revised Version, or even the Twen- 
tieth Century New Testament. Have a brief ''testimony" 
service just before closing the school, and announce the fact 
near the opening, so that they can gather a "spiritual" 
thought. The memorizing of good songs and hymns should 
be encouraged. Ask any one to repeat a verse from memory, 
then have the school sing It. 

The teacher may spend five minutes on the Catechism Catechism 
question and answer, at the opening of the lesson. Some 
pastors have a place to explain these every Sunday at the 
opening of the school. 

A few more suggestions from Secretary Lawrence may Miscei- 
furnlsh help. Frame and hang on the walls the pictures sestZL^""^' 
of former members of the school who died In the Spanish 
War, or lost their lives In hero work. Display the flag for 
patriotic teaching purposes at every service In a conspicuous 

29 



Workable Plans for Wide-Awake Churches 

place. Choose a motto for the year, and have all repeat it 
together. Here is the one used by his school: "Remember 
Jesus Christ." Some superintendents, who are perfect gen- 
erals, have the boys and men whistle the air of a piece, while 
the girls and women sing it. Dismiss the school while 
seated, and save much confusion. Mr. Lawrence follows 
this plan up by having a moment of perfect silence, when by 
a secret signal the orchestra starts softly on the last piece 
sung and the school files out. 

African Churches usually request contributors to bring 
their offerings to the front. Marion Lawrence suggests 
that a carefully arranged march can be provided on Rally 
Day for the school to pass in front of the altar and drop its 
offering in some unique receptacle. Once his school had a 
big pumpkin, another time a barrel, another a big plaster of 
paris egg. This plan may be followed frequently at regular 
collection times, or when a special fund is being gathered. 

Bible According to a January newspaper press dispatch, Rev. 

"""'a. H. Pitkin, of the First Methodist Episcopal Church, 
Columbus, Ohio, arranged a "Bible yell," which a Sunday 
afternoon children's meeting gave. It was led by a cornet. 
The pastor claimed that it fixed verses in the mind and set 
people to reading them. Here it is : 

"Say, my chum, have you seen 2 Timothy ii, 15; iii, 15; 
I John i, 7-9; Romans viii, 16; i Thessalonians v, 22? 
Tells you exactly what to do." 
Parents* "A Parents' Day" is profitably observed in Rochester. 
Attractive invitations are sent to the homes. The children 
render an interesting program and committees look after 
the happiness of adults. Assign essays on the lessons to boys 
and girls. Let them recite the books of the Bible. Adult 
memories may be set to work; love won back to Christ; 
home assistance secured and new members of the family 
started to school. 

30 



Training and Teaching in the Sunday-School 



Only 500,000 of the 12,000,000, or one in 24, Sunday- Total 
school members in the United States have signed the tem- 
perance pledge.* A program leading to a total abstinence 
pledge will do incalculable good. Abraham Lincoln was 
kept through life, by a signature thus made in youth, from 
every sort of spirituous drink. Other promising lads may ^ 
thus be turned to a safe pathway. 

The tardy member or teacher spoils the order and un- Cure 
settles the unity of a school. Every effort will be spent, 
therefore, to cure them. Professor Wellsf suggests that 
each pupil be given a badge with a number on. In the 
order of their arrival, 1-2-3-4, etc., until time to begin the 
session; then every one on time would be wearing a badge. 
Those without one are late. The teacher takes them up and 
returns them to the secretary before school closes. The Park 
Avenue Baptist Church, Plainfield, N. J., gives tickets to all 
present on time. When thirty tickets are presented, they 
are exchanged for a Bible or book. Some schools close the 
doors as soon as the opening exercises begin. Late comers 
must wait until the song Is completed, or the Scripture read ; 
when the doors are opened, the school stops all exercises 
until the tardy ones are seated. 

Teachers' Meetings 

Every successful school has some sort of a teachers' meet- Monthly 
Ing. If impossible to meet weekly, then gather at least 
once a month. The lesson study should not, however, be 
crowded out. It Is more Important than much detail busi- 
ness. 

When the monthly teachers* meeting Is announced, pass Pupil's 
slips of paper to the school and ask the scholars to write sug- ^""^^ '°"^ 
gestlons as to how the school can be Improved. Help by • 



*How to conduct a Sunday-school, p. 199. 
■j- Sunday-school Problems, p. 41. 

31 



Workable Plans for Wide-Awake Churches 

proposing questions or different lines of activity. Sift out 
these slips and bring the best before the teachers. Head- 
quarter difficulties are thus discovered. Scholars think and 
notice things. 

Supper hour According to ''Modern Methods in Sunday-school 
Work," Central Christian Church, Lexington, Ky., hold 
their teachers' meeting one hour and fifteen minutes before 
prayer-meeting. Pairs of teachers in order prepare a light 
supper each v^eek, at the expense of the school. The finan- 
cial burden will be greatly relieved if each person would 
contribute from ten cents to twenty-five cents for his meal. 
Executive An Exccutive Committee of five can solve many prob- 
lems in the business of the Sunday-school, and arrange the 
remainder by recommendation, so that much valuable time 
will be saved in the full monthly meeting. Matters can 
here be frankly considered by them that would be unwise to 
take before the whole board. 

Treatment of Different tcachcrs give practical information when asked 
essons ^^ ^g^(>]^ ^]^g Icsson as if those before her were a class of boys 
or girls. At the close each teacher may make a suggestion 
for improvement, or ask a question. If the leader assigns 
w^ork to the teachers, they will be interested, directed to 
special vv^ork, and insured varied and fresh facts. One may 
describe the town, another explain current customs, another 
the method of government, another the general beliefs of the 
day, as they bear on that particular lesson. This plan will 
also work in the class. Send out lists of questions to be 
brought to the meeting answered. Every Sunday-school 
worker needs a well-thought-out and varied class program 
to follow. Gather the different methods of procedure in 
class and read them. 
Attendance It might bc Well to give the teacher an examination in 
the lessons. At least a certificate may be issued to those 
who do not miss a session. Teachers will certainly not at- 



Training and Teaching in the Sunday-School 

tend without study. The teachers' meeting should illustrate 
an Ideal class in its preparation of the lesson. Chicago and 
Toronto now employ a secretary whose sole work is to train 
Sunday-school teachers. 

One energetic school has a simple banquet in June for Summer 
the teachers and officers, at which plans are made to keep 
summer interest high. Breaking bread banishes barriers and 
binds brethren together. The banquet will insure a full 
attendance. Short toasts on such subjects as ''Keeping Cool," 
"Summer Difficulties," "Supplanting Sunday Base-ball," 
"Summer Singing," "The Teacher's Responsibility" re- 
sponded to will create life and enthusiasm and suggest 
methods. Special committees, to originate new features for 
every Sunday's program, or to provide attractive week-day 
entertainments for the faithful, are appointed. Every class 
was asked to elect a scholar to answer the question, "Why 
I like to go to Sunday-school." These were sent In and 
read. A number of vital questions were asked by the "chair- 
man," and opened by a privately notified teacher. Others 
then added their answers. 

Dr. J. T. McFarland recently printed a list of very valu- Teachers* 
able books for teachers, w^Ith the reduced price for which 
the entire lot could be secured. Few public libraries have 
many modern books on Biblical subjects. By careful plan- 
ning every school could secure the funds to purchase such a 
lot of books for the use of the teachers. With them may 
be gradually collected articles gathered in foreign lands, 
Illustrating missions, current customs, ancient dress or Imple- 
ments, for the teachers to use In class or for the reviewer to 
use before the school. 

The teacher must not only have aids for study, but know Normal 
how to study. Churches that have had the privilege of the 
pastorate of Rev. J. F. Harris, will never lose the influence 
of the normal teachers' class conducted by Mrs. Harris. A 

3 33 



Workable Plans for Wide-Awake Churches 



teacher who can take a thorough normal course will, other 
things being equal, do the most effective work. Many 
schools are blessed with a fitted normal teacher, who can 
Studying the train Sunday-school teachers. A few study suggestions may 
be helpful to the teacher. Rev. W. H. G. Thomas, an 
English clergyman, gave the following clear-cut advice on 
lesson study to the secretary of the International Sunday- 
school Association: 

"Think yourself empty. Read yourself full. Write 
yourself clear. Pray yourself hot." Such preparation will 
Insure a winning teacher. One teacher grew accustomed 
to reading the notes out of the lesson helps to the class, and 
naturally saw the class ''peter out." Personal thoughts, 
even though less abundant and more shallow, are more valu- 
able to a class than borrowed ones. Many preachers fail to 
trust their own brains, heart and inspiration enough. They 
lean on human opinions. Some commentaries are a mill- 
stone to original thinking. They outline too fully and dog- 
matize too positively. If any commentary or notes frighten 
out the personal thoughts and make stale and stilted the 
lesson exposition, throw them away and trust only the brain, 
common sense, and the Spirit. Think the lesson through 
first, then believe the comments If they satisfy you. Find a 
fresh new way to put truths w^hich have become your own. 

Teaching the Lesson 

Specific Denfinite teaching must be sought after; generalization 
will not stick. Professor Wells suggests that the golden 
text committed by the class be so related to the lesson that 
on quoting It all the Scripture facts w^Ill be recalled. On 
Review Sunday provide cards holding each Golden Text, 
put them in a hat and let each pupil draw one from It and 

Outlines relate ,the facts of Its companion lesson. Here Is one em- 

34 



Training and Teaching In the Sunday-School 

ployed for a recent Sabbath Observance Scripture: i. Sun- 
day — (a) Origin (resurrection of Jesus) ; (b) Change (of 
religion — Commandments, to Christ). 2. (a) Necessary 
only, (b) Avoid others' work. 3. Love — (a) Please and 
not (b) Displease Christ. The three words: Sunday, Work, 
Love, will recall important teaching. 

President Warren, of Boston University, frequently Pupil as 
called a student to the front to conduct a class recitation 
with closed book while he sat by to prompt or enlarge. 
Every man was thus always prepared lest he be called up. 
His knowledge was tested by passing or refusing an answer. 
His real grip was manifested in the question asked. This 
plan is profitable for the Sunday-school class. Novelty 
arouses. Scholars are alert to discover mistakes. Teachers 
may be found in the class. 

In youth the writer heard a story of boys carried to the Pupil 
moon, where teachers must answer all questions instead of 
asking any. Suppose the real thing be tried in the class. 
One week in advance announce that every one in turn must 
ask one or more questions about the lesson. Teachers will In 
this way discover the kinds of thought which occupy the 
minds of boys and girls. This will more than offset revealed 
ignorance on the part of the teacher. 

When the teacher assigns a question, it should be noted Attention 
so that there is no failure to call for it the next Sunday. 
Call no name in asking "Spot" questions until after the inter- 
rogation. This will assure the attention of all and cause 
them to work mentally lest they be designated. In reading 
the lesson announce names for each verse and never follow 
the alphabet, a circle, or an expected order. At the close of Best 
a lesson give each one a piece of paper and request him to 
write upon it the most impressive thought of the lesson. 
Collect the written answers, and read or hold them to open 

35 



s as 

questioners 



Workable Plans for Wide-Awake Churches 

the lesson with on the following Sunday. The best one 
might be given to the superintendent to be read before the 
Sunday-school. 

Illustrations 

Hammer lUustrations should touch experiences. A preacher was 
once speaking of honest work and mentioned a certain ham- 
mer first made by a village blacksmith and now become the 
best hammer on the market, he said: *'I think the name is 

, and an honest old carpenter in the audience, deeply 

interested, broke out, 'That 's it.' " The truth struck in 
Games that timc. Pity the teacher who knows nothing about the 
school-ground games. '*Crack-the-whip," "Tug-of-war," 
**01d Witch," "Base-ball," and a dozen other games are rich 
with illustrations. The cross, selfish, fault-finding boy makes 
a poor playmate. Even the kite must be well ''tailed" if it 
sails smoothly. 
Specimens Pictures print facts. They are cheap and are prepared 
with great skill. The stereoscope stands mountains up, ex- 
cavates the pools and erects the walls of buildings. Unless 
Bible lessons are fitted to the "Now," they are soon for- 
gotten. Here are a few illustrations suggested by Marion 
Lawrence: Fly-paper attracts, but the victim finds it 
usually impossible to get away. How like sin this is! Um- 
brella handles are made from plants having long, straight 
roots. They are pulled up, tied in knots, and planted again 
until they grow and harden. Habits can similarly knot the 
young life and harden as they grow. Taking a little at a 
time away from habit is a slow process. Use the word 
"Habit." The first letter left off leaves "A-bit," the second 
"Bit," the third "It." Dr. Schauffler pictures the call of 
Samuel with a thread. A boy is called to the platform, 
given hold of a piece of thread, told to shut his eyes and 
follow the thread when it draws him. Just before getting 
back to the platform he tells the boy to hold back. The 

36 



Training and Teaching in the Sunday-School 

thread breaks and the boy no longer follows, because he 
does not feel the pulling. So the gentle drawing of the 
Spirit may be effective, if promptly and regularly obeyed. 

On Easter Sunday the author held before the school Liiy buib 
a lily bulb, ugly and in the bad-smelling decay that goes 
before growing time, and a white lily bloom. They illus- 
trated the power of Christ to resurrect the body and alscv 
to lift it out of sin to whiteness, as well as to bring purity 
out of heathen pollution. Children and adults listened with 
eye, mouth, and ear-windows wide open. 

Home Work 

Home w^ork of a general sort may he assigned. Give Lists to 
them a month in which to make a list of all the birds men- 
tioned in the Bible. Or they may prepare a catalogue of the 
titles used for God, or return an index of all the prayers 
recorded in Holy Writ with their opinion as to the best. 
A particular verse or person may be assigned to be explained 
or described in writing. Marion Lawrence supplied a list Questions 
of ten questions on the next Sunday's lesson and printed them 
for distribution. Each pupil over ten years of age was ex- 
pected to bring answers to these questions on the following 
Sunday. A mimeograph may be used to provide the lists. 

The Baptist Temple of Brooklyn gives a certificate to Daily 
those who follow a given set of daily Bible readings in con- 
nection with the Sunday-school lessons. The blank show- 
ing that such work has been done is dropped into the box, 
placed at the door every Sunday, and is collected and cred- 
ited. The plan is not employed in summer. 

Reviewing the Lesson 

Unless there is careful preparation for the review, it will Preparation 
resolve itself into a sermon or a series of exhortations. The 
successful school works the pupils as much as possible. 
Smaller folk must feel that they are of some consequence. 

37 



Workable Plans for Wide-Awake Churches 



Class before Assigii onc IcssoH to cach class for the review, at least 
one Sunday ahead. Each teacher may be asked to stand 
in his class and conduct a resume of an assigned lesson before 
the school, using only his class, until all the lessons in the 
quarter have been treated. This will give variety and spice. 

Question No two will do it alike. If the teacher prepares a list of 
ten questions on the lesson, the folk at home will be inter- 
ested in helping to find the answers. The best can then be 
selected for each of the ten and be given to the school. 
Sometimes the superintendent or a committee prepares a list 
of questions for each lesson of the review, and gives them 
around to different classes to be used in the "Quarter's Retro- 
spect." It might be well to let some teacher review a regu- 
lar lesson before the entire school, aided only by her own 
class. The same list of questions may be given to two 
classes. Then let them both stand or come to the front, and 
have each class give its answer to the same question. The 
school will recognize the best answer. If impartial judges 
decide concerning the superior list, vigor will be put into the 
preparation. 
Picture Marion Lawrence suggests the drawing of a picture 
frame on the blackboard. Describe a picture you can behold 
in it, and see who can first guess what Bible event it repre- 
sents. Mr. Moody wielded great power by modernizing 
Bible stories. This is always legitimate. Ask each class 
to select by vote the best thought of the day's lesson, and 
write it on a bit of paper. Collect and have a clear-voiced 
person read them, giving each class credit. A member from 
each may be called out to read its own. 

Window Rev. Robert F. Y. Pierce, D. D.,* suggests a unique 
blackboard design for a quarterly review. Draw a window 
with twelve panes of glass. Back of the window (draw of 
course in it, but appearing as though it were seen through 

* Pencil Points, p. 164. 

38 



panes 



Training and Teaching in the Sunday-School 

the window) design a picture and words resp resenting the 
general truth which the quarter's lessons emphasize. The 
illustration given by Dr. Pierce shows a road leading to the 
transfiguration and a crown marked ''Jesus." Every quar- 
ter suggests some truth that can be represented in a picture. 
On the twelve panes of glass pin a sheet of paper, holding 
the subject and golden text of one lesson. Recall each lesson, 
and then remove the paper. A part of the view through the 
window will appear, and the pupils will anxiously and at- 
tentively wait for the next one until the final paper dis- 
appears and they can see the whole picture. 

Represent a number of doors drawn on a blackboard, Doors 

. labeled 

and write over them "Western Union," "Rock Island R. R.," 
"Steel Corporation," and the names of some large local firms, 
with the words, "Closed against the Drinker" inscribed 
underneath. Mr. White, a long time Sunday-school worker, Stereopticon 
now of Denver, but formerly of the Presbyterian Church 
in Junction City, Kansas, owns twelve or fifteen hundred 
stereopticon views bearing on the Sunday-school lessons. 
For years he has collected them for use in the Sunday-school. 
What a potent assistant they could be in a darkened room 
at the regular quarterly review time! If this were impos- 
sible, they might be employed for a specially appointed even- 
ing service. 

Grace Church Sunday-school, Denver, is using a very Essay 
successful plan to get the children interested in definite inci- *'°°'"' 
dents of the lessons for the quarter. A silver medal with the 
words, "Prize Essay, Grace Church," engraved on it, is 
secured. There is also a blank to be filled with the name 
of the winner. This is offered to the boy or girl under 
eighteen years of age who will write an essay on some subject 
connected w^ith the preceding quarter's lessons and contain- 
ing not more than five hundred words. The essays ase col- 
lected by a committee and given to a judge, after the names 

39 



Workable Plans for Wide-Awake Churches 

have been erased so that he can not tell who wrote the dif- 
ferent ones. The two or three best essays are read before 
the school, and then the medal is awarded. It is surprising 
what new and bright thoughts are thus brought out of simple 
Bible stories and events. The children listen to them breath- 
lessly, and teachers learn the sort of thing that attracts the 
child mind. When four silver medals have been awarded 
a gold one will be given to the one, among four, who writes 
the best essay. 



40 



CHAPTER 11. 
Organizing the Sunday-School for Results. 

Specific Effort 

This is the day of organization. Waste of effort is as The best 
much a sin as a waste of money or food. The farmer ex- '^^^" ^ 
pects that plowing, seeding, and care will bring a harvest. 
He is not satisfied, however, unless it be the very best pos- 
sible harvest. He studies, he watches, he reviews his ex- 
periences, and then he works toward a definite end. Once 
it was sufficient to get children to attend Sunday-school peri- 
odically and listen to a sort of sermon or exhortation. It 
was a mere mass-meeting. John Wanamaker, the great 
organizer of department stores, is the ideal of modern super- 
intendents, for he has used the same system in his Sunday- 
school. 

The boys and girls require regular attention, and the Christians 
school plans and teacher must work towards making them 
the best possible type of Christians. Organization is not for 
show, but for solid results. Every method which will save 
effort and effectually lead to the training of strong, ripe 
Christians will be gladly welcomed. 

Regular Attendance 

A regular attendance secured is more valuable to the Goal 
school than many new scholars who come spasmodically. 
Every effort expended to reach this goal is worth the cost. 

Mr. Mead suggests that the blackboard contain a list Post 
of the classes, with the number absent from each the preced- 

41 



Workable Plans for Wide- Awake Churches 



ing Sunday. Place these in the order of proportion, and 
pride may push out into the in-pulling calls. Read the 
names of the classes with a full attendance. Where the 
school secretary reports the best classes for average attend- 
ance, at least once a quarter, the inner spirit will be aroused. 
Day-school rooms get such a reputation for small absence 
records, that boys will often go to school when ill rather 
than get an absent mark and hurt the standing of the room. 
A class spirit in Sunday-school accomplishes things that are 
impossible to all other plans or means. Central Presbyterian 
Church, Denver, keeps a list of names posted in large letters 
before the whole school of those "Not absent for three 
months," *'Not absent for six months," and so on up. 
Monthly If the secretary reads the average attendance of each 

average 

class and collection once a month, it will stir things up. 
If there are too many classes for this to be done, print the 
list for distribution. If the average is given for the corre- 
sponding month of the year before, or for the previous month, 

Best five it will prove to be a stimulus. Report each Sunday in detail 
only the five classes having the best average attendance and 
per capita collection. This will spur every class to have 
its name read. 

Telephone The SuTidayS ckool Journal gives the following: "A new 
kind of Sunday-school attendance record went into effect 
at the Third Presbyterian Sunday-school, Trenton, N. J., 
recently. It has been called the * 'Telephone Attendance 
Record," because those members of the school who are sick 
or obliged, to be away can use the telephone and call up the 
secretary of the school at the church and ask to be registered. 
A large number of members of the Church and school hap- 
pen to have telephones in their homes, and it is hoped that 
the new plan will increase the interest of the scholars and 
teachers, and at the same time maintain a record which, 
while it is not an active record, will still show a certain 

42 



Organizing the Sunday-School for Results 

interest that the members of the school are taking in the suc- 
cess of each Sunday's lesson." 

A postal-card from the teacher is second to a personal Attention for 
call when the pupil is absent. A call will do the most good. ° 
No teacher dare neglect home visiting. A telephone talk 
with them is also useful. Fruitful results will be secured 
by having the class secretary write a note to the absentees 
every time any one is absent. 

Call on each teacher at the monthly meeting to report The teachers 
how many calls she or he made on the members during that 
month. These experiences related may encourage others to 
find time for the same work. It is certainly not wrong to 
use Sunday afternoons for this sort of visiting. The busiest 
usually do the best work. 

The cadet boys may carry a message o^ regret or inquiry Cadet 
at a pupil's absence as early Monday as possible. The Bush- 
wick Avenue Sunday-school, Brooklyn, give the cadets a 
blank to be filled out by the mother, giving the cause of 
the child's absence from Sunday-school. Appoint a com- Class 
mittee from the members of the class to visit the absentees 
before the following Sunday. They may go together or 
singly, several thus calling on the same person. Be sure 
to give them a chance to report their visitation and the result. 

Arlington Methodist Episcopal Church, Kansas City, Official 
Mo., for several years had a saintly old man who loved 
and was loved by the children as official Sunday-school 
visitor. Every Monday morning he started out with a list 
of absentees to find why they were not present the preceding 
Sunday. The deaconess or lady assistant may do this work 
with splendid results. 

"The City Sunday-school," a pamphlet giving the plans District 
used in the Bushwick Avenue Sunday-school, Brooklyn, a 
great school, and prepared by the superintendent, Frank L. 
Brown, and published by the Sunday-school Times Company, 

43 



Workable Plans for Wide-Awake Churches 

is packed full of good suggestions, and should be in every 
worker's hands. Nearly three thousand are enrolled in that 
school. The homes of the members are distributed into 
seventy districts, with a visitor in charge of each district. 
By a prearranged plan, when the fall work opened, the 
Superintend whole school was called upon in six weeks. The superin- 
tendent leaves his private business every afternoon at three 
o'clock, and spends the rest of the day calling. He talks 
with the mother, stirs old memories about her Sunday-school 
days, converses about personal religion, finds out about the 
father (and has a men's band follow the "case" up), and 
closes the call with a short prayer. He thus learns what 
the school needs to help and teach the scholars, as well as 
keeps his own heart warm and wins the interest of the 
parents. 
Alumni An Alumni Department is composed of all former pupils 
who have moved or been compelled to leave the school. All 
members receive regular communications and send back 
reports. 
Cross The Christian Finance Association, 74 Courtlandt Street, 
New York City, furnish an admirable Sunday-school assist- 
ant in their "Cross and Crown" system of pins. They 
supply samples on request. The pins run in series. A 
bronze pin is awarded to every one who attends regularly 
for two months. In two more months, if there is no ab- 
sence, the pupil surrenders this pin and receives a much 
better one. Every two months the old pin is surrendered, 
and a new and better one is given, if it is earned. At the 
end of twelve months a beautiful gold and enamel pin is 
presented, to be retained. If any two months in the series 
is broken by absence or tardiness, then the pupil may start 
at once for another record of two months. As soon as he 
gets any two consecutive months clear he can secure the next 
pin, though it may take six months to do so. In this way 

44 



and 



crown 



Organizing the Sunday-School for Results 

the pupils will not get as discouraged as they will if they are 
required to have twelve consecutive months of faithful at- 
tendance. The pins can be used over and over again, except, 
of course, the gold one, which costs eighty-five cents. 

Grace Church Sunday-school uses the pins in connection whu- 
with the White-record system, inaugurated by Rev. J. j^/^""" 
Carmen, the Colorado State Sunday-school Superintendent. 
The pupil is graded on five points — attendance, home lesson 
study, offering (to bring a penny or more), bringing Bible 
(or lesson quarterly), and deportment. When the pupil is 
perfect, no sort of mark is made after these divisions, hence, 
if fulfiling all demands, the card will be absolutely clean. 
A mark is placed on it only when one fails. This makes 
five white marks a month possible, or forty for two months. 
If a pupil gets only five deficiency marks in two months, he 
is called perfect and given a pin in the ''Cross and Crown 
Series." It has been tried only a short time, but has already 
worked marvelous improvement along all lines. It is an 
inspiration for the pupil to see his name on a spotless card. 

HOW TO KEEP THIS RECORD. 

1. Work for a White Record. 

2. Do not mark card if each point is perfect. 

3. Use any marks you prefer, but the following are simple and good ; 

A ttendance, [\] if tardy, [X] if absent. 

O flFering, [O] if there is none. 

B ible, [X] if forgotten. 

L esson, ( \ ) if partially prepared, (X) if no preparation. 

D eportment, (\), if fair, (X) if bad. 

4. In making up the quarterly summary adhere to the White Record 

plan ; if the record is perfect for the quarter make no mark. If 
not. place in the summary column number of imperfect Sundays 
in each point. 

A sample of the card, with instructions to the teacher, is 
here presented : 

45 



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46 



Organizing the Sunday-School for Results 

Class Organization 

Bo3^s and girls like to be self-governing. They early Order 
develop a taste for office. Read of the reformation worked 
in disorderly day-schools by "Little City Governments" 
and be convinced. If the W'hole class suffer for the negli- 
gence of one or two, they will soon spur that one to improve- 
ment. The First Methodist Episcopal Church, Topeka, Names 
found names for every class when F. J. Thomas was super- 
intendent. Letters were cut out of cardboard and pasted 
on dark brown or green dress lining or cambric. Each 
class had a motto and a class flower. The banner designated 
the class location. The winning boy's teacher at the South 
Broadway Christian Church, Denver, called his class the 
Q. Y. L. M. ("Quit You Like Men."). No one but the 
boys of the class know the meaning of the letters. The First 
Methodist Church, Los Angeles, has a number of young 
people's classes named in the same way. 

Class meetings can be held for a few moments at the MeeHnga-- 
close of school, with the president in the chair. Frequently and'sodai 
a social is enlivening, and builds the class into unity. Let 
the treasurer take up the collection, count it, and mark the 
envelope, while the secretary keeps track of the attendance. 
The monthly class meeting at a private home must never be 
neglected. 

Increasing the Attendance 

Periodic attempts to build the Sunday-school are not steady 
healthful. The ideal is to have every one alert all the time 
to increase the attendance. Pastor, superintendent, teachers, 
and scholars must work together to this end. 

The Bushwick Avenue Sunday-school teachers, officers, PubHc 
and board, including home department assistants, march into ^^'"""^ 
the Church service in a body on rally-day, where a specially 
prepared responsive service is used, and the pastor preaches 

47 



Workable Plans for Wide-Awake Churches 

a sermon to Sunday-school workers, magnifying their re- 
sponsibility and opportunity. This is followed by a conse- 
cration service. This instructs the Church members, and 
often arouses them to more loyal support. 

Sermon Thc pastor can further help by preaching on Bible 
study, and then advise the people to get help in the Bible- 
school. 

Badged Organize a reception, or invitation committee, wearing 
badges, to stand at the church door to urge people leaving 
the morning service to remain to Sunday-school. They may 
also welcome the pupils as they arrive. If one can remember 
how he enjoyed special attention as a child, the good of it all 
will appear. Adult strangers would often remain if given 
a real opportunity. 

Appoint a committee of boys and another of girls, to 
watch in the Church service for children who do not attend 
Sunday-school, and invite them. Only one Church member 
in five attends Sunday-school. 
High-school In the summer time get a class of high-school girls to 
apportion a certain territory among themselves, working by 
twos. See which team can discover and bring in .the most 
new pupils from its own district. 

Cradle The whole school can be interested in securing names 
of babies for the ''Cradle Roll." They will enjoy canvassing 
their own neighborhood for this purpose. These lists can 
be followed up fruitfully. Make a public request, or let 
each teacher arouse the class to action. 
Lists from Class rivalry can be used to get names of boys and girls 
who do not go to any Sunday-school, by announcing that the 
different classes will be given two weeks to prepare and hand 
in such a list. Name the class with the largest list, and 
reward the one from whose list the most new regular mem- 
bers are secured. 

48 



classes 



Organizing the Sunday-School for Results 



Professor Wells suggests that the school be divisloned Groups 
into groups of five or ten pupils, and see which will first 
double its number. 

Place a vacant chair by the side of a child, and let it Empty 
remain so until he has filled it with a new pupil. Have a *" ^"^^ 
chart with fifty or a hundred squares on it, representing 
vacant chairs. Paste a piece of red paper over a square every 
time a chair is filled. 

Have the class elect a membership committee. The Membership 
teacher should call for a report from the chairman every 
week. Select a new committee frequently, and speak of the 
most successful record. 

Divide the class into two sides, with leaders, and have ciass 
them contest for two or more months for new members. 
Their efforts may be limited to their own class, or pupils 
brought into any class in the school may be counted. Two 
classes of about the same size and age may also be pitted 
against each other in bringing in recruits. 

Buttons of various sorts never lose their attractiveness. Unique 
Prepare a unique one to give every child who brings a new 
scholar, and stimulate the school to effort, so that the button 
may be a common mark of membership in that school. 
Words on the buttons, as follows, arouse curiosity: "Got 
one," "Worker," "Winner," "Have You," "As the Stars," 
etc. 

Treatment of New Pupils 

Once a quarter, says Marion Lawrence, the new mem- Pubiic 
bers should be called to the front and be given recognition. 
The service in his school includes questions concerning pur- 
pose to profit by the school. The school motto is repeated. 
The teachers and officers form a circle around them and 
sing a special song. 

4 49 



recognition 




Workable Plans for Wide- Awake Churches 



Enrollment Hevc thc sccrctary read the name and address of each 
new pupil the Sunday he is enrolled, and the class asslgji- 
ment. A certificate of enrollment, neat and suggestive, will 
make the occasion impressive and be a reminder in all after 
life. 

The Markham Memorial Sunday- 
school, St. Louis, gives each person en- 
rolling in the Sunday-school a tastefully 
designed button, with the following in- 
scription on it: *'R. U. a member of 
Markham Memorial Sunday-school? I 
AM." 

Special Dr. Mead suggests that the new members and those 

^"'"^ who brought them be given a social once a month. This 

enables new ones to get acquainted and rewards work. 

Telegraph L. J. GilHs, Superintendent Central Presbyterian Church, 

Kansas City, Sunday-school, imitated a telegraph company's 

message blank for an invitation to the rally-day services . 



Church Service Attendance 

Feeder It IS HOt Sufficient to get boys and girls to attend Sunday- 
school. That school fails of its purpose which does not suc- 
ceed in getting them to attend the regular Church services. 
The pastor is culpable if he does not do his best to interest 
the children, but he can not get them to attend unaided. 
The Sunday-school must be a feeder of the Church in mem- 
bership and audience. Prayerfully considered methods will 
then be adopted by every school, both to get the pupils to 
attend Church services and to become clearly identified 
members. 
Encourage- The Superintendent, at the opening of the school, may 
ask all who attended a regular Church service, that or the 
preceding Sunday (where the school session is held in the 

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51 



Workable Plans for Wide-Awake Churches 

morning) to stand up a moment. The effect on the school 
will be helpful. Others will strive to be among the number 
in the future. Test them on how many can give the text, 
subject, and a thought from the sermon. A few may be 
able to present a brief written outline of the discourse once 
in a while. Encourage, and reward appropriately with a little 
note-book containing the different sermon texts for the quar- 
ter, and some thought advanced at the time and handed in 
for inspection. 
Card Here is an attendance card plan used by one pastor: 

employed 

WESTERN METHODIST CHURCH, NAPANEE. 

All the School at Church, and All the Church at School. 
(Our Aim for the Coming Year.) 

The Pastor Welcomes Every Scholar at the Morning Service. 

Name Date 

Morning Text 

Subject of S. S. Lesson 

N. B. If you were present at Church Service and Sunday-school 
on the date on which you received this Card, take it home, fill in 
the blank spaces, and bring it back on the next Sunday. Drop it in 
- the Pastor's box at the door, get a new card during the service, take 
it home, and repeat the operation every Sunday through the year. 
A Special Service for those who do not fail during the year will be 
held on December 29, 1901. Will you be there if spared? Be 
faithful, and you will be rewarded. 

S. T. Bartlett, Pastor. M. S. Madol, S. S. SupU 

Reward Some schools have a representative at the Church service, 
who punches an attendance card. A Bible or book is given 
to the one showing a perfect attendance for three, six, nine, 
or twelve months. 

"Band" The Church of 'the Covenant, connected with the Brick 
Church, has organized in the Sunday-school a *'Go-to-Church 
Band." The pupils pledge to attend a regular Sunday serv- 

52 



Organizing the Sunday-School for Results 

ice. One hundred and thirty joined the band, and one 
hundred and four of this number attended every service for 
six months, and were given a silver badge as a reward. 

Letter Writing 

Uncle Sam can be a valuable assistant. In this busy Desirable 
day Sunday-school workers should use him generously. Dr. 
Chapman, in numerous books, gives striking illustrations of 
the conversion of men as a result of a written letter. Every 
person who has not forgotten childhood days remembers 
how they thrilled with pride over the reception of a "very 
own" letter. 

The teacher may remember the birthdays with a per- Occasion 
sonal note. Send a congratulatory message with a Scrip- 
ture verse or two, a personal experience, or a pertinent 
tract when the pupil joins the Church. The far-seeing 
teacher will take a list of the names of her class when she 
goes on a vacation, and will send each one a souvenir post- 
Card or a personal note. Rev. S. W. Naylor, while pastor 
at Kenosha, Wis., sent appropriate postals to every member 
of his Church when he was touring in Europe. 

The teacher away on a trip should at least write a letter Descriptive 
of description to be read to the class. Often it will be good 
enough for the whole school to hear. A pastor is wise who 
is not so busy resting that he will forget to write a brief, 
breezy message from woodland, sea-coast, or farm-house 
to the members of the school. 

The Bushwick Avenue superintendent sends a welcom- Enrollment 
ing letter to every new pupil the first Monday after enroll- 
ment, while the district visitor calls, if possible, before the 
week is out. 

The Secretary- 
It is a great mistake to undertake to hold one in the Responsible 
school, or to develop a person by putting him into the office 

53 



Workable Plans for Wide-Awake Churches 

of secretary. It is one of the most Important positions In 
System the school. The chief, or supervising, secretary of the Bush- 
wick Avenue Sunday-school has twenty assistants. A four- 
fold manifolding record is made of each scholar; one goes 
to the superintendent, secretary, deaconess, and teacher re- 
spectively. Three card Indexes are kept; one alphabetically, 

Quarterly one by bIrthdays, and one by streets. A quarterly report 
should be given to the school. Previous quarters can be 
compared, progressive classes noticed, decreases emphasized, 
and profitable conclusions drawn. The weather conditions 
may be kept, and an estimate made as to the effect of differ- 
ent sorts on attendance. 

Report to The great Bethany Sunday-school, Philadelphia, super- 
Intended by John Wanamaker, has a quarterly report for 
each child sent to the parents. It Includes the number of 
Sundays on which the golden text was repeated, an offering 
brought, and also an account of order. This reminds home- 
folk of duties. It may help to keep pennies from the corner 
candy store. Another letter Is sent to the parents, at the 
time the pupil is enrolled, giving the aim of the school, and 
requesting their co-operation. 

Additional The names of those who are sick should be read out. 
If a list of the dead Is kept, an annual memorial service 
may be made helpful. When a pupil moves, the modern 
secretary notifies the nearest school authorities. The birth- 
days of all are known, and unless the superintendent sends a 
note and a card, the secretary should do so. Post on the 
bulletin board a list of those who will have birthdays the fol- 
. lowing week. Those named will be more sure to put their 
pennies (representing the years of age) Into the birthday 
box the next Sunday. 
Stenographer Qct some onc to voluntccr to act as Sunday-school ste- 
nographer. He may take dictation at the close of school, and 
send out notices early in the week. 

54 



Organizing the Sunday-School for Results 

The Funds 

Israel P. Black insists that all the collections should go Seif-suppon 
for benevolence and missions, while the regular Church 
treasurer pays the school expenses. Secretary Lawrence, on 
the other hand, declares that the school should not only pay 
expenses, but should also teach the children a valuable les- 
son of Church loyalty by contributing a certain proportion 
for the support of the Church. 

In the same way there is another difference between Sec- Christmas 
retary Lawrence and Professor Wells. The first favors giv- 
ing up the Christmas treat, and in its place having the school 
bring provisions, toys, and money for the needy, to instruct 
them in sympathy and charity. The latter insists that sweet 
and happy memories are lost for the children when the school 
has no "Santa Claus" and treat. 

There is much evidence to favor both protestants. The Expense 
dependent school does not teach its members their relation 
to the Church. Many children in a majority of our schools 
have little jollification and heart-stirring happiness outside 
of the Sunday-school treat. The money thus expended is 
no more wasted than that used by Mary in the "ointment." 
Some of us remember our own childish heartaches when 
private presents were permitted and we were missed, while 
wealthy ones were called forward many times. Individual 
gifts should not be allowed. 

Israel P. Black suggests that the song used in the Pri- 'Money- 
mary Department, "Hear the 'pennies' dropping," should be 'pennies'* 
changed to "money," as the children get to thinking they 
can bring nothing larger than pennies. 

A birthday box will gather much money in penny Birthday 
amounts. Some schools use it for missions; others for the 
library, or current expenses. The Bushwick Avenue Sun- 
day-school devotes It to hospitals and relief work for needy 
scholars, and to send flowers to the sick. 

55 



Workable Plans for Wlde-Awake Churches 



Business- Thc Sundav-school funds will, of course, be handled 

like 

economically and in a business-like manner. No single per- 
son should be given the right to make any unauthorized ex- 
penditure. The Board, or at least the Executive Committee, 
should first pass on questions requiring the outlay of money. 
Every pupil must feel responsibilty for the collection, and 
be taught to bring something. Thomas K. Beecher, the 
brother of Henry Ward Beecher, after much persuasion, 
took charge of his own Sunday-school, and was among the 
first to make clear-cut rules. Here they are: "Perfect at- 
tendance, except for unavoidable cause ; every pupil to know 
the lesson perfectly; every pupil to put something into the 
collection." The purpose of the latter rule, he said, was not 
so much to get money, as it was to cultivate the habit of 
responsibility. He urged them to earn the money. When, 
through poverty or misfortune, it was not possible to get at 
least one penny, he instructed the pupils to cut out a round 
piece of paper and write on it "One cent," and place their 
name on the other side, and put In the offering. 
Omitters Marlon Lawrence Instructed his secretary to report every 
Sunday the number of omitters, those who brought nothing 
for the collection. 
Missionary The Oxford Presbytcrlan Church, Philadelphia, has a 
Primary Department Mission Band, which supports a native 
worker In a foreign field at sixty dollars a year. They have 
four tin boxes. These are securely locked by the secretary, 
and each week two are given to the boys and two to the 
girls, to be returned the next Sunday. The boxes are dis- 
tributed to different pupils so that they may gather mission- 
ary money. At the end of the year every pupil has had a 
box for a week. It might add zest If the offerings of the 
two boys and two girls were reported separately each week 
or month to see which had the most money. Pupils should 
be encouraged to work and save in preparation for the time 

S6 



Organizing the Sunday-School for Results 
when the}' will receive the boxes. Every child has friends Missionary 

offering 

who will contribute to missions, if solicited. A reward pin, 
a Holy Land flower, a certificate (neither costing more than 
ten cents), may be given to every child who brings In one 
dollar. Smaller rewards may be given for lesser amounts. 
Recently the Grace Methodist Sunday-school, W. T. 
Child, superintendent, requested each class to select a mem- 
ber briefly to answer the question, "Why do I like to come 
to Sunday-school?" Nearly every pupil, in the answer, 
spoke of a desire to give their pennies so that heathen boys 
and girls might learn about Jesus. The regular monthly 
missionary offering, taken after a special program on that 
topic had been rendered, gave them a heart interest in the 
subject. No school can prosper without scattering mission- 
ary information and giving liberally to support the cause. 

Various Department 

The Home Department Superintendent of the Bushwick h 
Avenue Sunday-school Is a retired business man, who gives 
all of his time to this work, and has seven hundred enrolled. 
He has forty assistants, who look after an apportioned di- 
vision of the city. As a member moves Into a new district, 
his name Is transferred to the book of the assistant In charge 
of that territory. The members use the Sunday-school li- 
brary, receive special Invitations to all festivals, and have an 
annual reception. A record of birthdays is kept, and a letter 
sent to every one at that time. Each one also receives a 
special message at Easter and Thanksgiving. The visitors 
seek to encourage "family worship," and to win the families 
for Christ. A stereopticon preview of the quarter's lessons 
for the Home Department Insures Interest by arousing a de- 
sire to learn the setting of the pictures. The Home Depart- 
ment should be given a reception at least once a year. Some 
members are Invalids. Arrange to bring them In carriages. 

57 



ome 
department 



Workable Plans for Wide- Awake Churches 



Cradle Thc BusKwIck Avcnuc Sunday-school, Brooklyn, has 
three hundred babies on Its ''Cradle Roll." The superin- 
tendent calls on each baby on its birthday, with a "scrap- 
book birthday gift she has made out of pictures or cards she 
has picked up." She writes letters, especially to any who 
are sick, or in the country In summer, and weaves Into them 
pictures of birds or flowers or children, making a pretty 
little story of it. She takes the certificate of membership 
to the mother, and a gift at Christmas time. She has a 
class of about a dozen of the Cradle Roll babies less than 
three years of age, who come to the kindergarten. Pictures 
of these babies and of the kindergarten children are grouped 
and hung upon the wall In the kindergarten room. A 
monthly social Is held for the mothers, where problems of 
home-training are discussed. Wafers or cakes and cocoa or 
coffee make up the refreshments. Practical books for 
mothers are in a special library open for their use. 

Appoint a committee of older girls to assist In the Cradle 
Roll reception. Let them call personally and arrange to 
help the mothers get there. 

Open shelf Chrlst Church, Cincinnati, uses the open-shelf system 
for its Sunday-school library, the children being allowed 
to take any book they desire. There are no fines and no 
record. This Is a down-town Church. This Is the conclu- 
sion of the librarian : "Each child Is treated on the principles 
of honor, and the results are more than satisfactory." 
Guest A guest book will become of great value. Men suddenly 
spring Into prominence; then their signature In the Sunday- 
school book will look big. In the course of years many 
names will be secured, and each will recall a personality In 
a close and vivid way. 

Wide-reach- The Bushwlck Avenue Sunday-school has the following 
committees appointed: Ushers, Awards, Athletics, Relief, 
Examinations, Lectures, Employment, Library, Temperance. 

53 



Organizing the Sunday-School for Results 

The school has a gymnasium for the boys. Monthly lectures 
with stereoptlcon and moving pictures are given w^ithout 
charge, the expense being paid by taking an offering. Two 
nights a week the young men meet for gymnasium work. 
Superintendent Brown says: ''After we started the g>'m- 
nasium nearly thirty young men took a stand for Christ and 
joined the Church, because they felt that the Church w^as 
interested in them." 

A physical culture teacher is paid eight dollars a month 
to lead a physical culture class for the young ladles one night 
a week. 

Three hundred and fifty places were found by the Em- 
ployment Department in one year. One father came to look 
over the school and said: "I don't take much stock in this 
pious business, but I wanted to look at the Institution that 
got my boy a job." Something Is ''going on" every night In 
the week, under the direction of the Sunday-school. 

When Bishop Warren was pastor of St. John's Church, Employment 
Brooklyn, his Sunday-school of a thousand members ran an 
Employment Bureau. An officer was elected to take charge. 
He lived in a central location. Applicants filled out a card- 
form, giving age, experience, home conditions, educational 
qualifications, etc. This w^as filed away. Regular reports 
were given. It might be well to spur members to find places 
for others, by reading at the time of making the regular 
report the names of the boys or girls who found places for 
others. 

A frequent entertainment, a moving-picture show, a Entertain- 
stereoptlcon exhibition, elocutionary and musical entertain- "^"'^ 
ment, or some similar attraction should be given free for the 
pupils, while others are charged an admission. Those who 
pay will provide the expense money. Tickets may be given 
only to those who were present the four previous Sundays. 
The entertainment may be promised when the school has 
reached a certain increase in attendance. Grace Sunday- 

59 



Workable Plans for Wide-Awake Churches 

school increased twenty-five per cent in a few weeks by such 
a promise. It put every one briskly to work. 
Banquets Givc 3. suppcr, but Call it a banquet, to the older boys 
"^^ of the Sunday-school once a year. Let them respond to 
toasts and haye a "free" and happy time. Girls who find 
great delight in high-school fraternities w^ll be attracted 
by a similar plan for them. 
Cadets The Messenger Cadet Corps of the Bushwick Avenue 
Sunday-school consists of fifty boys, each assigned to a dis- 
trict. Each boy carries all sorts of messages in that terri- 
tory. 
Picnic Secretary Lawrence's school gave an egg hunt, that was 
demanded three years in succession, at the annual picnic. 
One thousand red wooden or plaster-paris eggs were hidden 
in grass, bushes, and trees. Different sections of the park 
were allotted to the various departments of the school. Then 
the hunt began. The one finding the most eggs was suit- 
ably rewarded. A street car parade, led by a band in the 
first car, and going through the principal streets, preceded 
the picnic. 
Appropriate Many Churchcs have a big obstacle at the start in an 
unhandy, barn-like, or darkened room, in which to hold the 
Sunday-school sessions. It is almost impossible to properly 
grade the school, in most buildings, for the lack of separate 
rooms. Whatever else is done, the school must be bright 
and cheerful, even though decorations, pictures, new win- 
dows, electric lights, and a dozen other helps are necessary. 
Look hopefully towards the day when a modern building 
can be erected. The scolding, fault-finding, critical, com- 
plaining, formal, cold, spiritless, unconsecrated superintend- 
ent or teacher must by some means be transformed or ex- 
pelled. 

Always and everywhere the Sunday-school worker will 
be ''made all things to all men," that he may "by all means 

save some." 

60 



CHAPTER III. 
The Church Caring for the Children. 

General Facts 

Some one has said, "He who puts his hand on the head Early 
of the child puts it also on the heart of the mother." Dr. 
Edward Judson says, "The key to the hard problem of 
evangelization lies in the puny hand of the child." How 
true! Won in plastic days, they are usually loyal to the 
end and can be trained for efficient service all the days. 

Children are influenced by various things in their Chris- influences 
tian life. Parents and homes, of course, have the largest 
potency; but the Church and the pastor are more important 
than is usually recognized. Dr. Starbuck asked a number 
of Christians concerning the most potent influences in shap- 
ing their characters. Here are the answers: 

Parents and home influences 52 

Other personal examples 48 

Books and writers 29 

Church and pastors 28 

The pastor who wins the love of the children can move l, 
and mold the whole community. The man with a literal 
memory can find no more profitable task than holding in 
mind the name of every child. One can gain great influence 
by making a complete list of all the children of the home, 
and committing them so that the greetings can be by name. 

Picture cards will never cease to attract. Carried con- picture 
stantly in the pocket with a brief invitation to Church and 
Sunday-school, they will be welcomed and valued by future 
men and women. They may be distributed to strange chil- 

61 



learning 
names 



Workable Plans for Wide- Awake Churches 

dren met on the street or when calling at the home. The 
Birthdays baptized children are always recorded. Notice birthdays by 

mailing a card or written greeting. 
Souvenirs Becomc interested in their hobbies and endeavor to con- 
tribute to them. Pick up odd buttons while on a trip for 
the boy who is collecting them. Save your foreign stamps 
and ask your friends for them, and hand the same over to 
the lad saving them. Help the girls collecting signatures 
of celebrities, or calendars, or foreign pictures of dolls. Pos- 
sibly these souvenir collectors would be willing to give an 
exhibit at the pastor's home some evening. It would interest 
many people. Ask them in one at a time, or all together, 
the evening open house is kept for adults. Some sort of re- 
ward may be offered for the most unique and varied collec- 
tion of souvenirs collected by a boy under a certain age dur- 
ing a fixed time. Ecomony is thus taught and judgment is 
developed. 
Special The pastor on returning from a trip may invite the boys 
and girls who are interested to call on a certain evening, 
and then he may. show some views or souvenirs gathered and 
tell them about the things seen and heard. The Juniors as 
well as the Seniors are entitled to a time when they can call 
on the pastor. They may be led to make a confidant of 
him, and some sadly need it with the many careless fathers 
and mothers of these days. Have an evening or afternoon 
*'at home" at least once a month for the boys and girls. 
Children's Rev. James Allen Geissinger, of Cincinnati, Ohio, gives 
"""^an account in the Western Christian Advocate of a service 
he conducts for children from six to sixteen years of age one 
hour every Wednesday, beginning at four o'clock. He calls 
it the ''Children's Hour." The time is divided into three 
twenty-minute periods. The first is for worship, and con- 
sists of processional; chants, some psalm; the Lord's Prayer 
in concert; responsive reading; concerted memoriter work. 

62 



The Church Caring for the Children 

The second is for study, and the children are separated Into 
three divisions. Each child Is given a Perry picture at the 
close, illustrating the lesson. These pictures are put In a 
scrap-book and exhibited at the annual social. A stereopti- 
con with ancient and modern religious pictures Is used In the 
third twenty minutes. 

The pastor ought once in a while to give a reception to Pastor's 
the children who are members of the Church. The proba- '^^"^^ '"" 
tloners or members of the training class, if thus invited, can 
be met personally, and each one be taken Into a room alone 
to see if he understands what it means to come into the 
Church. The following Invitation was sent out on a re- 
turn postal-card by the author: 

Denver, Colorado, Octo. 5th, 1904. 

Dear Louisa :- 

Mrs. Reisner and myself will 
give a party to the boys and girls of our 
Church next Saturday afternoon from 2.30 
to 5 o'clock. 

We want you to come. Send us word if 
you cannot be there. We will have a good 
time. 

Remember I want always to be 
Your friend. 

Christian F. Reisner. 

The Sunday-school can profitably give all the children, 
who are Church members or who are being prepared for ad- Sunday- 

-r . , .... school 

mission, a reception or party, it gives them special desig- reception 
nation and enables them to know each other and be encour- 
aged by the numbers. 

Dr. Schauffler speaks of a pastor who sent each teacher a 
list of the Church members in her class, together with a re- Teacher's 
quest that she give them personal attention, and report to 
him concerning their difficulties and progress. 

63 



Workable Plans for Wide- Awake Churches 



Training for Children should not be admitted to the Church without 

membership ., .. ., . r c ^ t ^ • 

a careiui training in the meaning oi lundamental things. 
Memoriter work is not sufficient. There is a question 
whether it does any good simply to commit catechism and 
creed. It would be better to explain the truths in language 
that printed the facts on the child's mind. 

Pastoral Dr. R. F. Hurlbut, out of a wide and successful experi- 
ence, insists that the pastor ought to conduct his own '*ChIl- 
dren's Training Class." No one Is so well equipped and no 
field will yield as large returns. Dr. Charles L. Goodell, 
however, found thoroughly competent trainers in Hansom 
Place Church. Usually the pastor alone can do this work In 
the demanded way. It is easy to secure a neat certificate of 
Church membership that can be framed, and will be valued 

Diploma by boys and girls. A diploma or certificate of membership, 
neatly tied with ribbon, is presented by the author to each 
child as he Is admitted into Church membership. 
Reverence Dlsorder In the Churches, permitted freely, will break 
the spirit of reverence and hurt the religious sense. William 
G. Koons, In his book, "The Child's Religious Life," de- 
clares: "The bowed head, the folded hands, the reverent tone 
of voice will awaken religious impulses In the child and 
finally lay the basis for religious habit and character." This 
is literally true. If the Church and religion Is allowed to 
be cheapened by disorder and "sport" in the Church, or even 
Sunday-school service, the smallest child will be affected. 
Story Mr. Koons further advises the workers with the child, 
who has arrived at the intelligent age, to study and practice 
the art of story telling, since this Is the way truth gets root 
at this age. One boy told Mr. Stelzle that he liked to read 
the Old Testament because something was "going on" In It. 
After adolescence, Mr. Koons advises that orders be seldom 
given, and that the appeal be made firmly and confidently 
to the reason. "Sensitiveness, suddenness, and secretiveness 

64 



The Church Caring for the Children 



characterize this age." Example and kind treatment count 

for more than any other sort of teaching. Bishop John H. Personal 

influence 

Vincent, when a young pastor, wrote to Dr. Stephen Tyng, 
an early and successful children's worker, for a copy of the 
constitution of his Sunday-school, and received the answer: 
"I am sorry. I can not come." He was the constitution. 
It must always be so with the successful child worker. 
There can be no positive and final rules and methods. Mr. ^^^^^"^ 
Koons further insists that the child must be given an oppor- 
tunity to exercise his religious knowledge and feelings by 
being given actual Christian work, or at least something 
related to the Church, to do. 

How to Get Children in the Church 

The pastor may deputize many tasks to other Church 
workers, but in the end it devolves upon him to get the 
children connected definitely with the Church. The follow- 
ing question was included in the list sent out to pastors, 
How do you get children into the Church? Here are the 
replies: Rev. Courtlandt Myers — "Go for them. Get the 
teachers to feel they have a part. Make a special efFort 
Christmas, Easter, Children's-day." Rev. John D. Counter- 
mine — "Never talk with the child until I have a personal 
talk with the parent about the child." Rev. William Merle 
Smith — "Am hesitant about taking children under thirteen." 
Rev. M. P. Boynton — "Observe Decision-day, and at other 
times invite them. Have your Young Disciple's Class- 
meeting weekly, for study of Doctrine and Christian Liv- 
ing." The following custom brings a good suggestion for a 
city Church w^here the children can not be gathered through 
the week: Rev. Cleveland B. McAfee — "I have a com- 
munion class at the regular Sunday-school hour, two or three 
weeks before communion." Rev. Benj. Brewster — "Chil- 
dren are taught that Sunday-school is not children's Church, 
5 6s 



Workable Plans for Wide-Awake Churches 



and are urged to attend service, going If necessary before the 
sermon." Bishop Vincent declares that if a child can only 
attend one Sunday service that ought to be the regular 
preaching service. Amen and Amen. A hw more ansM^ers : 
Rev. Naptali Luccock — ''Follow^ certain lessons by brief 
evangelistic service. Teacher on alert and prepare the vs^ay." 
Rev. Mr. Thomas — "By teaching them that the Sunday- 
school is the portal of the Church." Rev. J. H. Hopkins — 
"We consider them always in the Church, if baptized. The 
Methodists, you remember, now^ record all baptized children, 
and list their names on the back of the family Church letter 
when it Is given. These children need not be on probation 
at all." Rev. W. A. Bartlett — "There is some risk in re- 
ceiving them, unless they come from Christian homes, and 
unless the Church is provided with means to nurture them." 
Rev. John Favllle — "We get them into Church membership 
on the plan that a child ought to grow up a Christian." 
Rev. F. T. Rouse — "Mostly from the Sunday-school; have 
had eighty in one year from that source." Rev. W. P. 
Odell — "Have a harvest gathering at least once a year." 
Dr. W. A. Quayle receives them at the Sunday-school serv- 
ice two or three times a year. Rev. John Wright — 
"Through personal association with them." Rev. W. B. 
Hinson-— "Make teacher feel that he or she is pastor to the 
children." Rev. P. H. Swift — "Have a children's choir 
for Sunday morning service, in addition to regular choir. 
Often preach a five-minute prelude sermon to children before 
regular sermon. Have Friday night gospel service for 
young people in connection with revival. • Push Junior 
League. Have Decision-day in Sunday-school once a year." 
Rev. J. J. Reed, of Washington Square Methodist Episcopal 
Church, New York City, holds a children's meeting Friday 
after school, with high class and carefully prepared programs 
accompanying the half-hour of devotional Instruction. Ad- 

66 



The Church Caring for the Children 

mission Is by ticket. President McCracken, of New York 
University, and Josiah Strong have recently addressed them. 
Parents are admitted to the gallery. Rev. H. H. Preedy — 
"Pastor's classes." Rev. W. H. Day — ''Pastor's classes, 
Boy's brigade, Decision-day In Bible-school, Junior Chris- 
tian Endeavor." Rev. George C. Peck — "Use Decision-day 
and other means. Organize them Into various classes and 
meet them myself." Rev. David G. Downey — "Personal 
work. Instruction in an afternoon pastor's class and with 
aid of deaconess in Junior League." Rev. J. T. Farls — 
"Girl's choir, Pastor's Preparation Class after morning serv- 
ice. Junior Endeavor Society." Rev. J. M. Phllputt — "Dur- 
ing Lent I have a pastor's class made up of young people 
eligible for Church membership. These I train carefully In 
the fundamentals of Christian living." Rev. George P. 
Eckman — "Thorough school for religious Instruction, taught 
by the pastor, which meets every Friday afternoon, and the 
course of study embraces the History of Methodism, the 
Catechism, doctrines of the Church, and kindred subjects. 
Also includes map drawing, studies of the life of Christ, and 
Bible history. A course of gymnastics Is also had In connec- 
tion with the above." Rev. Charles R. ScovIUe — "By giving 
them an occasional Sunday night." Rev. F. N. Calvin — 
"By knowing them wherever I see them, and speaking some 
cheerful word to them. I have a crowd of them." Rev. 
F. E. R. Miller — "By personal work, evangelistic appeals 
In Sunday-school, and boys' and girls' meetings once In a 
while." Rev. Dr. Strong — "Ten-minute sermons every 
Sunday morning. All children under high-school age are 
in a band of 'Juniors,' and learn a hymn and psalm each 
month, assembling In front of the pulpit before the sermon 
each Sunday morning to repeat their lesson In concert. The 
'Juniors' meet once a month at 5 P. M. on Wednesdays, 
In the dining-room of the church, bringing their lunch. A 

67 



Workable Plans for Wide-Awake Churches 

part of the time is given to religious instruction, and the rest 
to games; a gathering on Saturday night from 7 to 8, with 
stereopticon or other entertainment; a pastor's class for four 
weeks previous to each communion." 
Sermon Rev. W. A. Brown, the pastor of Washington Avenue 
'"■^" ^^ Methodist Episcopal Church, Kansas City, Kansas, is fol- 
lowing the plan now adopted by many others, of giving five- 
minute talks to children at the opening of the sermon. 
Recently he has been telling about a ''Hive of bees," and 
has used such texts as "Be kind to one another" (Eph. iv, 
32) ; *'Be ye thankful" (Col. iii, 15) ; "Be ye doers of the 
word" (Jas. i, 22) ; "Be faithful" (Rev. ii, 10). A promi- 
nent business man recently admitted that he was not accus- 
tomed to attend Church regularly, but that these talks just 
about fitted him, and he did not want to miss them. 

Work for Boys 

Religion The boy problem is a big one. Save him, and the man 
is secure. We can not do it by Juvenile Courts, boys' clubs, 
or purely secular methods of any sort. We must have the 
religious element. Rev. W. W. Pinson, writing in 1905, 
said: "Of five hundred inmates of the Reformatory of Jef- 
fersonville, Ind., two hundred and eighty-six of them, or 
fifty-seven per cent, never attended Sunday-school, and but 
one of the five hundred ever belonged to a Young Men's 
Christian Association. In 1890 there were in the Federal 
prisons of this country 711 under fourteen years of age, and 
8,984 between fourteen and nineteen. In 1890 there were 
in the prisons of the United States 411 youths under eighteen 
convicted of murder." It behooves Christian workers to 
save the boys. 
Steizie Charles Stelzle handled a great crowd of boys while a 
pastor in St. Louis, and his words should bear weight. Here 

68 



The Church Caring for the Children 

' — 

arc a cluster of suggestions picked out of his book, "Boys of 
the Street:" 

Boys' Clubs should neither be too complex nor too shal- Simplicity - 
low. Simpilicity must be sought at all hazards. It is not 
sufficient to conduct a mere reading-room, nor on the other 
hand should an involved educational system be inaugurated. 
A small beginning can be made in every place. Six or eight Smaii 
boys can be gathered by a Sunday-school teacher once every ^ " 
v^^eek or tw^o, to play games, look at historical pictures, or 
study some interesting specialty, such as electricity or botany. 
This "group" club may be composed of the neighborhood Group 
"gang," the boys who are congenial. In club work there Various 
must be order. Let the boys make the rules. Select the 
natural leader of the crowd and make him the "policeman." 
The smaller boys will be interested in kindergarten or re- 
lated methods. The larger boys are early attracted by city 
politics; let them debate the subject, represent legislation by 
mock councils, etc. In some clubs miniature elections are 
held with all the regular paraphernalia. Most boys sing 
better than they will admit. Organize a glee club, and let 
them appear at entertainments. A mandolin and guitar club 
is also possible. The penny savings bank can be employed. 
A boy will be proud of his own bank book. "We once had 
about two thousand depositors who saved over $6,ooo." 
Let them compose and print a miniature newspaper. If 
possible, buy a small press, and they will soon learn to set 
type. Street cleaning squads can be formed to keep dif- 
ferent neighborhoods in order. Prizes may be offered for 
the best block of street or alley or whole square. Practical Lectures and 
lectures by spicy-mouthed folk will do lasting good. A 
college professor tells about "habits," or how he got his edu- 
cation. Possibly he will relate his struggles. A doctor will 
talk about health. He can, for example, tell them that 

69 



entertain- 
ments 



Workable Plans for Wlde-Awake Churches 

clean hands at the table will help guard against consump- 
tion. An employer of labor gives a history of his struggles, 
and tells about the kind of folk he likes to employ and pro- 
mote. Use graphophones, stereopticons, sleight of hand per- 
formers, good impersonators, tableaus, shadow pictures, mock 

Room trials, spelling matches. Purchase new games. Manufac- 
ture others. Manual training can be undertaken on a small 
scale. The rooms of the club should be tastefully and neatly, 
as well as attractively, arranged and decorated. Better have 
one or two good pictures, than a number of cheap chromos. 
Fresh-cut flowers will even be noticed, and do the boys good. 
As soon as possible put new and "first hand" reading matter 
on the tables, though you are compelled to start with used 
and donated literature. Have soap and water handy, and 
make a boy feel that dirt is out of harmony with his sur- 
Expenses rouudiugs. Urge the boys to earn the money for the club 
expenses, as far as possible. One club started a gymnasium 
by the boys gathering tin-cans in the neighborhood and sell- 
ing them, receiving ten cents a hundred. Almost any kind 
of a room will do for the boys if it is the best that can be 
secured. "I remember that, when some of the boys with 
whom I associated when I was nine years old, organized a 
club which met in the dark cellar of a New York tenement, 
and when we had nothing but tallow candles to illuminate 
the darkness, we thought that that club-room could not be 
beaten." 
Spiritual It is not always necessary to introduce religion into the 
club, at least directly. This can be done by personal con- 
versation. We m\*st not be ruled by stiffness nor "notions." 

Street Oue Sunday-school surrounded by a hundred thousand 
children had only an average attendance of three hundred. 
The workers started a "Children's Hour" on a week after- 
noon. "A children's choir of forty voices was organized, the 
children recited or sang solos and duets, sometimes the stere- 

70 



songs 



The Church Caring for the Children 

optlcon was used, and the pastor always gave a ten-minute 
address packed full of gospel." And they permitted the sing- 
ing of street songs that the children knew and sang until the 
roof threatened to lift. They also sang hymns that were 
stenciled upon a banner. They were street children — Jews, 
Catholics, and those of no religious faith — and had rarely, 
if ever, gone to Sunday-school. When the critics came to 
the leader and remonstrated with him because he allowed the 
children to sing street songs at a religious meeting, he calmly 
told the objectors that It was not a religious meeting, but an 
entertainment for the children Into which he Introduced 
religion. They permitted ''ballads" to be sung at their 
entertainments, he said. "Why not permit the children to 
sing them at theirs ?" The result of the work was that there 
were fully twice as many at the "Children's Hour" as there 
were at the Sunday-school, and it is not claiming too much 
to add that they received as much gospel as did the children 
In the Sunday-school. 

The Young Men's Christian Association, Mr. Stelzle The 
claims, Is not reaching the street boys. The Juvenile Court and boys * 
workers agree with him In this. The "rooms" are too 
"stylish" for this class of boys. 

Too many busy pastors and Church workers are dis- Too much 
couraged from taking up work for boys simply because they 
want to undertake too much. Any Church can start a boys' 
club on a small scale. If it grows, workers and means will 
appear In due time. Organize a Sunday-school class, or 
gather six or eight boys together and spend an hour with 
them In visiting and playing games. This will be a start, 
and may surprise you In its growth. Boys appreciate and 
respond to attention more quickly than any other class of 
people. The pastor who can manage and win them can "win 
out" any place. Work among them will enable one to give 
himself a good drill in self-control and leadership. 

71 



Workable Plans for Wide- Awake Churches 

This constitution is given place because proposed by 
Rev. Charles Stelzle (in ''Boys of the Street"), w^ho has emi- 
nently succeeded in this line of work: 

Boys' Club Constitution 

CONSTITUTION. 

ARTICLE I. 

Name. 
This organization shall be called The Young American Club. 

ARTICLE II. 

Object. 
The object of the club shall be to develop the physical, mental, 
and moral natures of its members. 

ARTICLE III. 

Colors. 
The colors of the club shall be red and blue. 

ARTICLE IV. 
Membership. 

Section i. Any boy between the ages of ten and fourteen may 
become a member of the club, upon the recommendation of the mem- 
bership committee, and upon a majority vote of the club. 

Section 2. Each boy, before being admitted to the privileges 
of the club, shall sign the constitution after his election. 

Section 3. Any boy who is absent from four consecutive meet- 
ings will have his name taken from the membership roll, unless he 
has a good reason for his absence, which must be sent to the Secre- 
tary in writing. 

ARTICLE V. 

Officers. 

Section i. There shall be a President, a Vice-President, Secre- 
tary, Treasurer, and Chaplain. 

Section 2. All elective officers shall be chosen by ballot, the 
persons receiving the highest number of votes being declared elected. 

72 



The Church Caring for the Children 



ARTICLE vi. 

Duties of Officers. 

Section i. The President shall preside at all meetings of the 
club. He shall have power, in case of a tie vote, to cast the decid- 
ing vote. 

Section 2. The Vice-President Shall preside at all meetings of 
the club in the absence of the President, and shall assist the Presi- 
dent in all ways possible. 

Section 3. The Secretary shall keep an accurate record of all 
proceedings of the club. He shall keep a list of the names and resi- 
dences of all the members, and call the roll at each meeting. 

Section 4. The Treasurer shall keep a correct account of all 
money received by him, and shall collect all dues from the members, 
and give a weekly report showing the financial condition of the club. 

Section 5. The Chaplain shall be responsible for such religious 
exercises as may be determined upon by the club. 

ARTICLE VIL 

Committees. 
Section i. The following named Standing Committees shall be 
appointed each term by the President, after consulting with the Ex- 
ecutive Committee: 

(a) Membership. — It shall be the duty of this committee to 
propose desirable candidates for membership in the club, and to 
visit and report upon all absentees. 

(b) Rooms. — It shall be the duty of this committee to see that 
the club rooms are properly heated, lighted, and ventilated, and that 
all furniture is in its proper place before and after the meeting. It 
shall also be the duty of this committee to see that order is main- 
tained in and about the building. 

(c) Social. — It shall be the duty of this committee to arrange 
for and take charge of the socials given by the club, securing such 
assistance as they may need. 

(d) Educational. — It shall be the duty of this committee to se- 
cure speakers for the regular meetings of the club, to take charge of 
all work of a literary character, and to arrange for all public meet- 
ings not otherwise provided for. 

(e) Athletic. — It shall be the duty of this committee to organize 
teams for out-door games, and to have supervision over parapher- 
nalia in the gymnasium. 

73 



Workable Plans for Wide-Awake Churches 

Section 2. The Executive Committee shall consist of the elective 
officers. 

Section 3. Special Committees ma^ be appointed by the Presi- 
dent upon recommendation of the club. 

Section 4. The Manager of the club shall be ex-officio member 
of all committees. 

ARTICLE VIII. 

Misbehavior. 

Any boy misbehaving at a meeting of the club or about the 

building shall be tried before the club by a committee appointed for 

that purpose, the club determining the punishment which shall be 

inflicted. 

ARTICLE IX. 
Dues. 
Dues shall be one cent a week, payable weekly. 

ARTICLE X. 

Meetings. 
Section i. The club shall hold its regular meetings on every 
Tuesday night at seven o'clock. 

Section 2. Special meetings may be called by the Executive 
Committee, or upon the written request of three members. 

Section 3. The quarterly meeting of the club shall be held on 
the first Tuesday evenings in January, April, July, and October, 
when there shall be an election of officers and reports from Standing 
Committees. 

ARTICLE XL 
Quorum. 
Two-thirds of the entire membership of the club shall constitute 
a quorum. 

ARTICLE XIL 
Amendments. 
This constitution shall be amended by a two-thirds vote of the 
members present at any regular meeting, notice of such amendment 
having been given one week in advance. 

Various Boys' Organizations 

There are many different boys' organizations in the coun- 
try. A few are mentioned. Closer details can be gathered 

74 



The Church Caring for the Children 



by correspondence. The "Knights of King Arthur," founded "King _ 
by Rev. William Byron Forbush, in 1893, and conducted by 
Frank Lincoln Masseck, Brattleboro, Vermont, Is a growing 
and helpful boys' movement. "The Boys' Brigade" was 
formed many years ago, and Is widely scattered and strongly 
organized. Here is Its published purpose: "The object of 
the Brigade shall be the advancement of Christ's kingdom 
among boys, and the promotion of habits of obedience, rever- 
ence, discipline, self-respect, and all that tends toward a true 
Christian manliness." (The Boys' Brigade Manual.) A 
splendid pledge Is required. Missionary work Is undertaken. 
First aid to the Injured Is taught. Summer camps and win- 
ter gymnasiums are conducted In many places. The National 
Headquarters are 804 Columbian Bank Building, Pitts- 
burg, Pa. 

Rev. E. C. Waring, of WIlHamsport, Ind., has devised "Whue 
an excellent organization for boys, called "The Knights of 
the White Shield." It Is simple, practical, and attractive. 
It is built around the tradition of an early Christian martyr 
who was shielded from death-Intended arrows and spears 
by a flashing shield at first Invisible to the eyes of the perse- 
cutors. The officers are as follows : 

The King. — He shall preside at all meetings and shall attend 
to the general direction of the Knights. He shall represent Con- 
science. 

Knight of the Sivord. — He shall rank next to the King. He 
shall represent Courage. 

Knight of the Shield. — He shall be the chief guard of the wel- 
fare of the organization. He shall represent Caution. 

Knight of the Helmet. — He shall be the chief guard of good 
manners. He shall represent Courtesy. 

Knight of the Keys. — He shall take care of all money and attend 
to all business interests. He shall represent Honesty. 

Knight of the Book. — He shall record the business and all items 
of interest in the meetings. He shall represent Accuracy. 

75 



Workable Plans for Wide-Awake Churches 



Knight of the Toiver. — He shall watch the door to see that none 
pass in or out without the proper qualifications and permission. He 
shall represent Watchfulness. 

Knight of the Armor. — He shall look after the matters pertain- 
ing to the room or convenience of the King and his Knights, and 
shall conduct the candidates. He shall represent Duty. 

Knight of Vigilance. — He shall be the monitor of the regular 
meeting, and shall frame indictments against poor and indifferent 
conduct on the part of the members. He shall represent Self-control. 

The Counselor. — He shall be the adult member who looks after 
the management of all matters pertaining to the welfare of the 
organization. He shall represent Patience. 

It is composed of boys from twelve to sixteen, regular 
attendants at Sunday-school, and who will go to public 
worship at least once a month. Boys dropped as unworthy 
knights are those who absent themselves without cause, who 
do not keep their vows, or are constantly uncongenial. The 
purpose of the organization is to keep boys in the Sunday- 
school, interest them in the Church and public worship, to 
make manly Christians, and to give them ''fellowship, sym- 
pathy, guidance, and inspiration." It has a secret "salutation 
sign," grip, and pass-word. Each officer is to be provided 
a sword of some kind. The official seats are located much 
as they are in a regular lodge-room. A full ritual is fur- 
nished, as well as a novel initiation service. Mr. Waring 
suggests that it be started by calling together eight of the 
best boys obtainable. 
Ruskin Emma Winner Rogers, of New Haven, Conn., tells in 
the Epworth Herald (June 2, 1 906) of a Ruskin Club 
organized in the thickly populated tenement district, among 
boys who lived ''on squalid streets and spent most of their 
time w^hen out of school on the street corners." "Their 
only social life was wnth their own little clique or 'gang' of 
boys." When the club was formed, the first hour of the 
evening was given to basket making. The small completed 

76 



The Church Caring for the Children 

ones they took home; the large ones were sold, one-half of 
the proceeds being given to the maker, the rest retained to 
purchase more material. "A half-hour of music, readings, 
or games followed the w^ork hour, and an occasional talk 
on some civic or social or health question varied the evening. 
Celebrations of holidays with special entertainments were 
cheering times for the boys." The club held its identity 
until the boys were from sixteen to nineteen years of age. 
Miss Rogers describes their w^ork now as follows: 

"The boys in my club are now from sixteen to nineteen 
years old. This year we reorganized, and the boys have 
paid regular dues of twenty cents a week, which covers the 
rent and lights. They have grown in sense and appreciation 
with the passing years. We rented a small, old-fashioned 
house with three rooms down stairs and three up, and two 
small halls; open fireplaces and pantries and running water. 
The club-room was made of good size by knocking out a 
partition. On the first floor is a library, club-room, and 
kitchen. Upstairs there is a game room and two rooms for 
arts and crafts. 

'Taper and paint made the interior attractive. Friends 
provided suitable club furniture, pictures, books, and games. 
Magazines and weekly papers are sent In frequently, and 
here by their own blazing fireplaces every night and Sundays 
the boys may come to rest, to talk, to read, or play games, 
to entertain or be entertained or Instructed by the friends 
interested In them, who bear the relation of associate mem- 
bers of the club. 

"There Is a president, treasurer, secretary, and "Inside 
guard" or doorkeeper of their own number. A tiny kitchen 
stove provides the coffee or chocolate for the occasional 
"spread ;" a case of attractive china only comes out for com- 
pany occasions, but plain blue and white cups and plates 
decorate the kitchen walls for ordinary use. Lamps are used, 

77 



Workable Plans for Wide-Awake Churches 



a half-dozen side lights in the hall and club-room, and a 
reading lamp in the library." 
"Holy The ''Knights of the Holy Grail" was projected and has 
been utilized successfully by Rev. Perry E. Powell, of Gar- 
rett, Ind. He has compiled a complete ritual and consti- 
tution. 

Interest and Profit 

Gymnasium Rcv. J. T. FaHs tells in the Westminster of the open- 
ing of a gymnasium in his Church, Markham Memorial, 
Presbyterian, St. Louis. The boys petitioned for it. A part 
of the church, the prayer-meeting room, was utilized. Two 
hundred dollars purchased the outfit, and the janitor moved 
it out of the way whenever a Church meeting was held and 
drew a curtain in front of it. The boys help pay the ex- 
penses. The third week in January of the first year, one 
hundred and two boys used it, and the total expense was 
only six dollars, or less than six cents apiece. 
Minstrel The Christ Church (Cincinnati) Boys' Club gives an 
annual minstrel show for the benefit of their friends and 
treasury. They also repeat the performance at several out- 
side places. 

"Charity" A Junior League Boys' Company found a poor family 
worthy of encouragement. They secured girls , to solicit, 
took a good-sized play wagon and went from house to house 
until it was filled with provisions. The things were un- 
loaded on the porch while no one was looking. Surprise 
resulted. The Juniors then came trooping in to sing and 
cheer the crippled inmate. The wagon and independent 
work gave attractiveness and a profitable lesson was taught. 
No Seniors accompanied or planned for them. 

lome Bible Rcv. J. T. Faris has arranged a successful plan to get 
children and young people to study the Bible. Three hun- 
dred and sixty enrolled, and two hundred and fifty com- 

78 



The Church Caring for the Children 

pleted the course. The sheet prepared to arouse appetite 
for the "Book" and to direct reading is as follows, and is 
self-explanatory : 

Markham Memorial Presbyterian Church, 

REV. JOHN T. FARIS, PASTOR, 

Menard and Julia Streets, Saint Louis. 

DO YOU LIKE A GOOD STORY BOOK? 

Who does n't ? 

And when you have been sighing for another good collection of 
stories to read, why have you never thought of the Bible? 
"What!" you say. "The Bible a story book?" 
Yes, indeed ! The most interesting story book ever written. 
You do not believe it? 
Well, are you willing to be shown? 
Then read : 

1. The story of the servant who was sent to find a wife for his 
master's son. (Genesis xxiv.) 

2. The story of a man who looked pleasant when everything 
went wrong, of a man who looked sad when he was in trouble, and 
of a man who forgot his best friend. (Genesis xl.) 

3. The story of a man who was taken from prison to live in a 
palace. (Genesis xli.) 

4. The story of the meeting of a son with a father who for 
years had given him up for dead. (Genesis xlvi.) 

5. The story of a little girl who watched by her brother's odd 
cradle ; and of a mother who was hired to take care of her own 
baby. (Exodus ii.) 

6. The story of a bush which blazed with fire, and was not 
burned up. (Exodus iii.) 

7. The story of a hard master who told his servants they must 
make bricks for him, and fi^nd their own material.. (Exodus v.) 

8. The story of the order which changed a nation's calendar, 
and why it was given. (Exodus xii.) 

9. The story of how bitter water was sweetened by a tree. (Ex- 
odus XV.) 

10. The story of the day when God told His people to get their 
Sunday provisions on Saturday. (Exodus xvi.) 

79 



Workable Plans for Wide- Awake Churches 



11. The story of how a rock furnished water to a thirsty multi- 
tude. (Exodus xvii.) 

12. The story of a god made out of earrings. (Exodus xxxii.) 

13. The story of the first tent-meeting, and how the tent was 
made. (Exodus xxvi and Exodus xxxiii.) 

14. The story of ten cowards and two brave men. (Numbers 
xiii and xiv.) 

15. The story of what happened to a man who profaned the 
Sabbath. (Numbers xv.) 

16. The story of the earthquake which swallowed three men. 
(Numbers xvi.) 

17. The story of the beast which spoke to its master, (Num- 
bers xxii.) 

18. The story of the death of the man whom God buried. 
(Deuteronomy xxxiv.) 

19. The story of how a multitude crossed a sea (Exodus xiv) 
and a river (Joshua iii) without boats, and did not get wet. 

20. The story of a strange siege and a strange capture. 
(Joshua vi.) 

21. The story of how one man's sin brought misfortune to mil- 
lions of other people. (Joshua vii.) 

22. The story of how an army of thirty-two thou and men was 
cut down to three hundred ; and how these three hundred, with no 
weapon but pitchers and lamps and trumpets, defeated a vast army. 
(Judges vii.) 

23. The story of a man who killed a lion, and pulled down a 
heathen temple on his enemies. (Judges xiv, xv, and xvi.) 

24. The story of the boy who heard God calling him. (i Sam- 
uel iii.) 

25. The story of a farmer's son who was made a king, (i 
Samuel ix and x.) 

26. The story of the shepherd boy who became his successor, 
(i Samuel xvi.) 

27. The story of the man who spared the life of his enemy who 
wanted to kill him. (i Samuel xxiv.) 

28. The story of a cripple who was given a home for his 
father's sake. (2 Samuel ix.) 

29. The story of the building of a church without sound of ham- 
mer or ax or any tool of iron, (i King vi.) 

80 



The Church Caring for the Children 



30. The story of the king who would not listen to the counsel 
of those wiser than he, and so lost most of his kingdom. (i 
Kings xii.) 

31. The story of the boy who was sunstruck, and how he was 
restored. (2 Kings iv.) 

32. The story of the little captive maid who helped her sick 
master to find a cure. (2 Kings v.) 

33. The story of the first Chest of Joash. (2 Kings xii.) 

34. The story of a girl who saved the lives of thousands. 
(Esther iii to Esther viii.) 

35. The story of a strange real estate bargain. (Jeremiah 
xxxii.) 

36. The story of a man who tried to get away from God by 
burning a part of the Bible. (Jeremiah xxxvi.) 

37. The story of the bones which came to life. (Ezekiel xxxvii.) 

38. The story of a king who ate grass, and lived with the 
beasts. (Daniel iv.) 

39. The story of the young man who was forbidden to pray to 
God. (Daniel vi.) 

40. The story of the preacher who was angry when his sermon 
led people to repent. (Jonah iii and iv.) 

41. The story of the slave who ran away from home, and how 
he came back. (The Book of Philemon.) 

These are only a few of the absorbingly interesting tales to be 
found between the covers of the Book. When you read them, I am 
sure you will own that the Bible is far more interesting and helpful 
than you thought. And I believe you will be eager to read other 
chapters and books. 

Do you wish to read these stories? It would help me if I might 
know how many will do so. That I may know if you intend to read 
them with me, and with others, will you not sign your name to the 
second coupon below, tear it off, and either hand it to me, or place 
it in the basket when the offering is taken on Sunday, or give it to 
your Sunday-school teacher.'' This will make you a member of the 
Markham Bible-story Readers' League. 

Try to read the stories before April i, 1906. Then, when you 
have read them all, sign the other coupon, and hand it to me, place 
it in the basket, or give it to your Sunday-school teacher, as in the 
case of the enrolling coupon. I want to know who complete the 
series of stories. To each one luho certifies to reading the entire 
6 8i 



Workable Plans for Wide-Awake Churches 



series of forty-one stories, betiveen February 25th and April 1st, I 
ivant to give a little souvenir. Very cordially, your pastor, 

John T. Paris. 

P. S. Always remember that the Bible is God's message to you. 
Ask Him to bless you as you read. 



(Coupon to be returned after ! 
reading, not later than 

April 1, 1906.) j 

I certify that I have read the 
entire series of forty-one Bible 
stories named in the leaflet given 
me by my pastor. 

Name j 


(Coupon for enrollment, to be 
returned immediately.) 


I intend to read the forty-one 
Bible stories named in the leaflet 
given me by my Pastor, and 
wish to be enrolled as a mem- 
ber of the Markham Bible-Story 
League. 


Address i 

i 


Name 


Address 



The Christian Endeavor World recently printed the fol- 
lowing : 

"The Third English Lutheran Juniors, of Baltimore, are 
given blank books, and every week a special subject is assigned 
them, and the Juniors are expected to obtain quotations on 
the subject, write them in their books, and read them at the 
following meeting in response to their names at the roll-call." 

Such subjects as "Love," "Wisdom," "Temperance," 
"Service," "Prayer," and "Heaven" would be appropriate. 
The plan is a good one, because it develops the independence 
and thoughtfulness of the Juniors. 
Children's Rev. Frank N. Nelson, rector of Christ Church, Cincin- 
nati, profitably holds a Sunday communion service for boys 
and girls once a month at 8.30 in the morning. From one 
hundred and fifty to two hundred attend. It would be help- 
ful for other Churches to copy this plan. A simple talk on 
the meaning of the sacrament may precede it. Appropriate 
songs sung and even a simplified ritual may be employed. 

82 



communion 



The Church Caring for the Children 



A special children's communion is bound to be instructive 
and impressive. 

Young married couples feel out of place in the old "Couples' 
crowd of young people, and are not at home with" the 
older married people; hence they usually drop out of the 
Church's activities. A Chicago Junior Society is helping to 
solve the problem. The superintendent is assisted by a 
Junior board consisting of six married couples. Each couple 
takes in charge one of the Junior committees. Usually it 
happens that when a Junior worker gets married, she or he 
drops the Junior work; but Christian Endeavor ingenuity 
has discovered a way to utilize them even after the wedding. 

The Juvenile Court 

The Juvenile Court work of our cities should command Support 
the enthusiastic support, earnest attention, and heartening 
words and prayers of every Church and pastor. There is 
no greater movement in our land to-day. While the work Atmosphei 
is undenominational, it must have the religious atmosphere 
and backing. Judge B. B. Lindsey, father of this modern 
movement, in the midst of his great work paused and joined 
Trinity Church, Denver, on probation. His chief probation 
officer. Dr. Lilburn Merrill, is a consecrated Christian, as 
is Mr. Thurston, the chief probation officer of Chicago. 
It is often true that permitted disorder in Sunday-school church 
and Church wrecks reverence, and frequently lays the foun- 
dation for lawlessness. A Sunday-school superintendent 
once said about disorderly boys: **I let them have a good 
time so that they will attend, otherwise they would remain 
away. It is better to have them this way, than not at all." 
He was utterly mistaken. It would be better to have ten 
boys and order, than to have one hundred and disorder. If, 
however. Juvenile Courts can win by love, sympathy, and 
advice, the Church ought to succeed in the same way. The 

83 



Workable Plans for Wide-Awake Churches 

"cranky," exacting, domineering, bossy, unreasonable un- 
sympathetic Church worker may be a valuable ally of the 
saloon In ruining boys. But there are many positive plans 
for helping the Juvenile Court and its overworked officers. 
Men's The Outlook of December 2, 1905, gave an account of 

club aid 

the work of the Men's Club of the Central Presbyterian 
Church of New York City in helping make men of Juvenile 
Court boys. Every member of the club takes charge of a boy. 
''He was to be a jolly good friend and comrade. He was to 
share in the boy's pleasures, to take him out to shows and 
ball-games, to invite him home to dinner, and to make the 
acquaintance of the other fellows." "He was not to lecture, 
not to preach, not to reprove, but to give to the boy the 
benefit of his wider knowledge and greater experience." So, 
in general, he was to be a real friend and adviser, such as 
any father or older brother ought to be. These men entered 
into their work heartily, visiting the boys at their homes, 
giving them "feeds" at the club, and not condemning their 
boyish pranks. A boys' club was started with fear, but it 
Result worked marvelously. What is the result? Seventy-five 
"Elder Brothers" each took a boy. Crimes as follows stood 
out against the lads: Seven for burglary, eleven petit lar- 
ceny, two for assault, and two for intoxication. Of the 
seventy-five boys, seventy-three were saved and won to a life 
of work or school. The other two fell, but were exceedingly 
anxious that their "Elder Brother" be not informed. Their 
"Elder Brothers" are waiting for them to be released from 
the Reform School to again take them up. Ed said, when 
told by one of the men to come to him when he got into 
trouble: "Aw, I can go to anybody when I'm in trouble. 
Bully thing about you is that I can go to see you when I 
Cultured ain't in trouble." In Denver recently, one lad sentenced to 
°™^the Reform School was taken instead by a wealthy woman 
to her own home, and since the boy would not go to school 

84 



The Church Caring for the Children 

she taught him herself. In six months she had worked a 
perfect transformation with the street arab. W. M. Mc- 
Clelland, a public spirited citizen of Denver, took little 
twelve-year-old Marie out of a deplorably bad home and 
made her a real member of his own household. After four 
months, going to Mr. McCleland's house on a visit, though 
Judge Lindsey had known Marie for four years, she had so 
marvelously improved that he mistook her for the grand- 
daughter of his host. 

Any pastor might well interest himself in finding a home Finding 
for one or two boys. Judge Lindsey said in his Washington 
Birthday address at Chicago before the Union League Club : 
**A good example in man is of greater value to boys and girls 
than sermons preached or precepts taught. The Jew of 
Nazareth was the wealthiest man in the tide of time. He 
gave to the world all there was of His great wealth ; for He 
was unselfish and He gave Himself." The Judge is not 
only a man of high theories, but of high practice. He works 
steadily and unselfishly to influence not only his own city, 
but the country. It is a sad commentary on our home life, 
and even some reflection on our Church work, that Juvenile 
Courts are necessary. The Judge always vigorously empha- 
sizes the correction of the evil at its roots. He is free to 
declare that ninety per cent of the cases brought to his atten- 
tion are the result of lax or bad homes. Chief Probation 
Officer Thurston, of Chicago, declares that disorderly Sun- 
day-schools help make cases for the Juvenile Court. 

But the child delinquent problem is upon us, and no Punishing 
man has so effectively grasped it as Judge Lindsey, suggest- 
ing and helping to frame laws in many States, but also 
working remarkable transformations at home. One day 
an English woman who runs a bakery was hailed into 
the Judge's court and fined fifty dollars for selling tobacco 
to a boy. A respectable pool-hall proprietor, selling only 

85 



adults 



Workable Plans for Wide- Awake Churches 



temperance drinks, was sent to jail for two weeks for doing 

Cigarettes the saHic thing. What is the result ? In no city in this land 

"°°°*will one, even after a diligent search, find so few boys 

smoking. He Is much more harsh on saloonists, and while 

In most cities "newsboys" enter drinking places, in Denver 

Coal boys and girls are kept out by the proprietors. A Jewish 

* neighborhood gave the railroads much trouble because the 

boys and girls climbed on cars and stole coal. A crowd 

was brought into the private room of the brotherly *'Jedge," 

and soon sympathy had drawn out the truth. A "gang" 

of Italian lads, who were stealing in the same way, came 

voluntarily under the leadership of one who had confessed 

to the Judge before in his private chambers. Soon there was 

no more stealing, and the railroads discharged several special 

officers. Here Is the cure which brought these changes. 

The Judge had secured the adoption of the following law: 

An act to provide for the punishment of persons responsible 
for or contributing to the delinquency of children. 

Section i. In all cases where any child shall be a delinquent 
child or a juvenile delinquent person, as defined by the statute of 
this State, the parent or parents, legal guardian, or person having 
the custody of such child, or any other person, responsible for, or by 
any act encouraging, causing, or contributing to the delinquency of 
such child, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, and upon trial and 
conviction thereon shall be fined in a sum not to exceed one thousand 
($i,ooo) dollars or imprisoned in the county jail for a period not 
exceeding one (i) year, or by both such fine and imprisonment. 
The court may impose conditions upon any person found guilty 
» under this act, and so long as such person shall comply therewith 
to the satisfaction of the court the sentence imposed may be sus- 
pended. 

When a father of one of the Jew boys was fined six dollars 
and placed on probation to keep his boy from stealing coal, 
he said: "Mine Got! Jakie, Jakie, see vot a lot of damage 
you done your father in fifteen little minutes." The boys 

86 



The Church Carmg for the Children 

told the Judge that they were Instructed to keep the coal box 
full, or get a "licking." 

Judge Lindsey, in a personal conversation with the industrial 
author, suggested a telling way to help "his boys" to man- 
hood. The "Reform School" has disappeared in Colorado, 
and in its place has come the State Industrial School. Few 
boys are sent there for punishment. In fact, under its 
-present administration the boys beg to remain. Generally 
they are sent there to take them away from a degrading 
home life, where they get the wrong care or else must 
breathe an immoral atmosphere, so vile as to be almost un- 
believable. At other times they are sent because nothing 
but industrial employment attracts and keeps them out of 
mischief. Here they are at once started at a trade. Judge 
Mack tells of a school run in Chicago by the Catholics, 
where such boys are taken in and turned out, by the indus- 
trial method, splendid citizens. As they start on carpenter- 
ing, they see the need of arithmetic and study that. Thus 
they are led to every study. Judge Lindsey has been making 
a strenuous plea for "public industrial schools," this side of 
the manual-training high-school, w^here young boys and girls 
can be taught. This cry is being taken up all over the land, 
and a Los Angeles committee is now trying to open several in 
that city. Christian men, through the Church or independ- 
ently, should lead the way in this matter by starting such 
schools. It is full of promise for the boys. 

But the specific suggestion of Judge Lindsey was that "Group" 
a great work could be done by a man and wife who would 
take in five boys who are charges of the court, but who have 
homes reeking with sin germs, and make a "home" for 
them. Some couples who love boys may have means of their 
own. The Church could do nothing better than establish 
such a "home." Five boys could be supported for less than 
a thousand dollars a year. The Judge hopes to see the State 

87 



Workable Plans for Wide-Awake Churches 

or county appropriate money for such care of groups of boys 
by a heartily interested couple. The Colorado law gives 
the court power to "commit the child to the care of a pro- 
bation officer, and may allow said child to remain in its own 
home, subject to the visitation of the probation officer; such 
child to report to the court or probation officer as often as 
may be required, and subject ^to be returned to the court 
for further proceedings whenever such action may appear 
necessary; or the court may cause the child to be placed 
in a suitable family home, subject to the friendly supervision 
of the probation officer and the further order of the court; 
or it may authorize the child to be boarded out in some 
suitable family home, in case provision is made by voluntary 
contribution or otherwise for the payment of the board of 
said child, until suitable provision be made for the child in 
a home without such payment." Hence this plan could be 
made a success by the court's co-operation. 



88 



CHAPTER IV. 
Young People Organized for Service. 

A FORMER Moderator of the Presbyterian General As- "Hurrah- 
sembly declared that the Christian Endeavor Society was 
threatened with being satisfied with badges, banners, con- 
ventions, parades, and hurrah. Either he was misquoted, 
or else he does not understand American young people. The 
fact of the matter is, that they have tired of the convention 
where they sing songs, hear enthusiastic and laudatory ad- 
dresses, and wear badges. The convention day was yester- 
day. They now demand practical help and feasible plans. 
All program builders are recognizing this fact. The Chris- 
tian Endeavor gave up its Annual International Convention 
some time ago, and now meets every two years. The Ep- 
worth League officials are seriously considering the advis- 
ability of holding International Conventions only every three 
or four years. They are even discouraging State and Con- 
ference Conventions. 

Organization Demanded 

At a recent meeting of the Epworth League" Board Conference 
of Control, a plan was devised to plant well organized 
District Leagues (including all the Leagues in a Presid- 
ing Elder's District, averaging from twenty-five to sev- 
enty-five Chapters), with a competently taught training- 
school in each district. They adopted a "Conference Board 

89 



Workable Plans for Wlde-Awake Churches 



of Control" constitution. This provided for a Board in each 
Annual Conference, consisting of the presiding elder, the 
president, and two elected representatives from each Pre- 
siding Elder's District, making four from each district, tw^o 
Purpose of w^hom must be laymen. This board is to organize and 
help every district to complete, solidify, and smooth Its sys- 
tem for effective work. They are to arrange a series of 
training-schools for workers on consecutive dates, joining, 
If possible, with one or more adjacent Conferences, so that 
League experts can be sent to all the districts at a minimum 
of time and expense for the purpose of teaching the active 
Training workcrs. In addition, eight or ten Schools of Methods are 
to be held In different parts of the country every summer. 
A recent writer In the Epworth Herald uttered a note of 
despair for the Epworth League. There Is not so much noise 
about the Leaguer's work as was once evident. Deep waters 

Encourage- run QuIctly. Latc records show that there never were so many 
enrolled Bible students. Tenth Legion members. Personal 
Workers' classes, and Mission Study classes as there are 
to-day In the Epworth League. While, as Is to be expected, 
effectiveness has decreased in some places. It has manifestly 

"Younger" Incrcased In other places. The sustained Interest Is so great 
In all young people's organizations that It creates the only 
real difficulty In the work. The older members hold on to 
the offices and committees too long, and threaten to take 
away the fact of Its being "young" In Its membership. It 
is necessary for the long-time members to take up some other 
work, and leave their places to be filled by the young people. 

Enthusiasm Euthuslasm Is necessary in twtry undertaking that "goes'' 
and that moves things. The Church can not and dare not 
get along without it. Paul truly said, "It Is good to be 
zealously affected always in a good thing." (Gal. Iv, i8.) 
There must be steady and constant effort to arouse and 
utilize enthusiasm; but shouting and crowds are not neces- 

90 



Young People Organized for Service 

sarily the signs of its presence. It is better to turn an en- 
gine's steam into directed and helping power, than merely to 
let it escape through the exhaust pipe or whistle. The fol- Pasior 
lowing Epworth League Committee Report of the Colorado 
Conference is worth repetition: "We recognize the great 
importance of commanding and utilizing the loyalty, en- 
thusiasm, and strength of the young people, so that they are 
not alone saved from sin, but are also trained for service. 
It is therefore worth while for every pastor to give much 
earnest prayer and a large share of his best time and strength 
to make his Epworth League an effective organization. We 
therefore urge every minister to rest satisfied only with the 
best obtainable set of officers, the finest lot of workable plans, 
and the deepest spirit of consecration and activity. As never 
before the Epworth League not only demands, but promises 
rich results from careful supervision and the best methods." 

The pastor must interest himself in the Epworth League, officers at 
and help it to make wise and effective plans. No time will ''°"°"°'^* 
be better invested. Rev. A. B. Hestwood, pastor of Dodge 
Avenue Church, Wichita, Kansas, arranges for the regular 
monthly meeting of the officers of his Young People's Soci- 
ety to gather at his home, so that he can spend at least a 
little time with them. He then assists in laying their plans. 
It is well for the pastor's hand to be seen only here. As 
a rule, he should stay away from the business meeting, or 
at least have little to say while there. Some organizations 
have been disrupted, and the heart has often been taken out 
of young people because the pastor appeared to run things. 

Since it is recognized that young people are looking for Brummiit 
something to do, a few specific things will be mentioned in 
this chapter. More details of tried and successful plans 
can be found in a matchless book just issued by Rev. D. B. 
Brummitt. 



91 



Workable Plans for Wide-Awake Churches 

City and District Unions 

Neighborly THc Seii Francisco Epworth League Alliance arranged 
for two near-by Chapters to hold a social together, so that 
they might get acquainted and help each other. The Kansas 
City local Christian Endeavor Union arranges similar de- 
votional meetings betw^een two or three near-by Churches of 
Revivals different denominations. The Denver Epworth League 
Union Cabinet, in a body, conducts through the winter 
numerous one week revival meetings at the weaker and 
Personal Smaller Churches with great success. They also managed 
wor ers ^ j^j-g^jy attended personal workers' Bible-class at a certain 
point every two weeks, taught by a competent teacher. 
Pastor's The local Union of Denver, after a Conference session, 
recep ion ^^^^ many changes occurred, gave the city pastors an at- 
tractive reception, with addresses and refreshments at a cen- 
Banquet tral Church. Annually they hold a carefully arranged and 
widely advertised banquet at a prominent hotel, with a dis- 
tinguished guest. Governor Mickey, of Nebraska, was the 
last guest of honor. Such events give standing to the League, 
and emphasize its importance. Complete detailed reports 
from each department were printed and circulated. 
Mimeograph A union mimeograph is owned by the Worcester ( Mass. ) 
Christian Endeavor Union. It is in charge of one of the 
officers, and the fact is advertised in 'the monthly bulletins 
of the union that the mimeograph may be used by any 
society in the union willing to pay the actual cost of stencil 
paper. 
City children The Newark (New Jersey) District Junior Epworth 
League superintendent acts as agent for city Chapters will- 
ing to pay expenses of railroad fare for poor children to the 
^ country and the country League that will find places of 
happifying entertainment for the poor city lads and lasses. 
Practical Mercy and Help work results. The following 
blank is sent to the rural Chapters : 

92 



Young People Organized for Service 



NEWARK DISTRICT EPWORTH LEAGUE. 
Department of Junior League Work. 
To be filled out by those who are willing to receive the children. 

Name 

Address 

Name of Chapter 

Located at 

Number of children ivill receive 

Sex 

Period 

Date, from to 

Hoiv is location reached? 

Name of Junior Superintendent 

Address 

Please return to Miss M. Gillman, 

District League Junior Superintendent, 

26 Spruce Street, Bloomfield, N. J. 

Officers and Members 

The installation service for the new officers of the Young installation 
People's Society should be conducted before a regular Church 
audience. Various forms are obtainable. Sometimes it will 
be more effective to originate one touching local conditions. 
Prepare a motto text for each officer or committee. It will Mottos 
prove an inspiration, and may be an insignia of office. The 
following verses were thus used by a Kansas City Epworth 
League : 

For the President, Zech. iv, 6; the First Vice-President, 
John XX, 21 ; the Second Vice-President, Acts i, 8; the Third 
Vice-President, Matt, xxv, 40; the Fourth Vice-President, 
Heb. xiii, 2; the Secretary, i Cor. xiv, 40; the Treasurer, 
I Cor. xvi, I. Each one was printed out in red letters on 
white ribbon. The same verse was also printed on the 
topic cards at the head of the proper department. 

Many young people's organizations now inaugurate the 

93 



Workable Plans for Wide-Awake Churches 



Inauguration ycai With E banQuct In honor of the new officers. Here are 
the toast subjects of the Trinity Epworth League, Denver: 
Loyalty, A Good Fellow, Lux Benigna; Denver, 1905 (an- 
ticipation of the International Convention). 

The Presiding Elder, Rev. J. S. Ford, was toast master 
at Lawrence, Kansas, and the toasts were "Our Crisis," 
*'Our League's Birthday," ''The League's Pledge." The 
future President spoke of "The Past," and the Incoming one 
spoke of "The Future." 

Membership Rev. J. M. PhUputt, of St. Louls, writes: "We recently 
had a friendly contest in the Endeavor Society. The mem- 
bership was divided Into two divisions, and began a spirited 
race to see which side could secure the most new members. 
In a two months' campaign the membership was Increased 
over two hundred per cent, running from 79 to 240 
members." 
New The Epworth League of First Church, Los Angeles, 
puts an old member in charge of every new member as soon 
as he Is received, who Is "expected to leave no stone unturned 
to make him feel at home." 

"Committee Have you ever tried a "Committee Tea?" It frequently 
makes committee meetings possible where otherwise a failure. 
The Social Department provides light refreshments and 
prepares a few good games. The chairman writes an invi- 
tation to, or the president personally Interviews, each com- 
mitteeman. It Is held at a private house. No one else Is 
Invited. A lively social time Is enjoyed for an hour. Then 
the committees separate, going Into different rooms to make 
plans. The president and the pastor give fifteen minutes 
to each committee. If careful arrangements are made, the 
''committee tea" will be attractive and desirable. It will 
be counted a privilege to attend. All the committees will be 
Instructed and stirred for work. 

The responsibility of membership, as well as Its deslr- 

94 



tea 



usiness 
meeting 



Young People Organized for Service 

ability, is enforced by a League Directory. The names and Directory 
addresses of active members are added to the topic card 
without large additional expense. This puts the members 
on their mettle, since their connection with the organization 
is known. It emphasizes the strength of the League to out- 
siders. 

The Epworth Herald, of April 22, 1905, says: "An Ep-"Haii" 
worth Hall for the accommodation of all social functions 
connected with the League and Church is in process of erec- 
tion at the German Settlement appointment on the Janesville 
(Wis.) District." 

The Roseville (N. J.) Epworth League is the largest b 
in the United States. They issue a year book of twenty 
pages. A committee of fifteen plan entertainments to at- 
tract members to the business meeting. Here are some of 
the programs: Debate by the Current Events Club of the 
Literary Department; subject, ''The Merits of the Coal 
Strike." Stereopticon Exhibition by the Camera Club (a 
League organization) ; Japanese Wedding (missions). The 
annual fee is one dollar. A Star Course of lectures or enter- 
tainments of high-class talent are provided free for the five 
hundred members. No tickets are sold. Outsiders are ad- 
mitted by invitation. They will erect a ''Chapter House," 
costing $15,000, in the near future. 

Nearly one-half of The Harvester, the monthly period- N 
ical of the First Methodist Episcopal Church, Los Angeles, 
is given to the Epworth League. Each department has an 
appropriate design at the opening, with a picture of the 
chairman at one side and an emblematic picture at the other 
(e. g., the Mercy and Help Department has a basket of fruit 
represented). 

The following news item suggests a plan for increasing Attend; 
attendance at a District Convention: "The Auburn District 
Epworth League Convention, held at Weedsport, N. Y., 

95 



ing 
conventions 



Workable Plans for Wide-Awake Churches 

April 27th and 28th, was filled with enthusiasm throughout. 
Four hundred and twenty-one delegates registered. The 
attendance was stimulated by a beautiful silk banner offered 
by the District Cabinet to the Chapter which should have 
the largest delegation present. Port Byron carried home 
the trophy, with an attendance representing one hundred and 
thirty per cent of its membership. Clyde received honorable 
mention, having eighty-six delegates, the largest actual at- 
tendance." 

The Devotional Meeting 

Vital The devotional meeting is vitally important. It may 
well command the best prayerful thought and the finest 
activity available. Out of a successful religious service will 
likely grow the other activities, though they must not be 
neglected, as they help to inspirit and make useful this serv- 
ice. As no worthy pastor is satisfied to see any service fail, 
so no young people's devotional meeting should , go below 
par. 
Leaders It is Well to develop new leaders, but never at the 
total expense of the meeting. Some Churches have the 
same leader every Sunday; others change every month or 
quarter. This is better than a thoroughly incompetent one. 
Every organization can have a leader's meeting. The pas- 
tor, Sunday-school superintendent, Bible-class teacher, or any 
other competent person can successively train those appointed 
to lead for the month. Rev. D. B. Brummitt, assistant 
editor of the Epworth Herald, conducts a meeting for all 
the League leaders in Chicago every Saturday. Sunday- 
school workers in all cities thus gather. The young people's 

Spice devotional meeting is just as important. Here are a few 
suggestions that come out of trial and experience: The de- 
votional meeting must not get stale. Alertness, ingenuity, 
and consecrated persistency can alone keep it fresh. It is 

96 



Young People Organized for Service 

rarely true that the same leader can handle a successful 
meeting regularly. Change adds spice and attractiveness 
and avoids ruttishness. It is difficult to develop new leaders. 
Test their mettle by putting an old hand in charge, with two 
or three untried assistants, who may sit in front and manage 
different divisions of the meeting. 

Make one member of the devotional committee respon- Apponio 
sible for a month's meetings. Let him gather the leaders 
together and make plans. Create high-minded rivalry be- 
tween different "months" for attendance, interest, and "go." 
Some fair basis for grading might be agreed upon, and an 
award made. This will often stir up the "gift within 
them." 

Ask the old-fashioned class leader to conduct a meeting, "ciass* 
Line the hymns, call out "experiences." Help him conduct ""^^""^ 
it after the class-meeting manner. For that evening invite 
a number of the older members. 

Appoint a Church pra5Tr-meeting reporter, who will Reporter 
bring in the best things to the young people's service each 
Sunday evening. He might take the sentiments or testi- 
monies in shorthand, with the speaker's name. Good 
thoughts, enhanced by a known and loved personality, will 
often be gathered. 

Several things will spoil the devotional meetings. People interesti 
come so late. Get a big sign to hang in front for their ""^"'"'^ 
benefit, "I am late." Do not listlessly sing away the first 
few moments. Plan for the best things at the opening. 
Make the tardy ones miss something by being late. Read 
a chapter each Sunday from a good book w^hich holds inter- 
est so closely that they will want to hear the next chapter. 
"The Victor}^ of Mary Christopher" is worth while. A 
good tract, completed in one evening, might do. The re- 
view of a strong, clean book, which will take up the opening 
minutes of several meetings, w^ill work. Clip a good mis- 
7 97 



Workable Plans for Wide-Awake Churches 

sionary illustration, and number the slips so that each will 
read his part in succession. 
Subject How will you handle the subject? A concrete outline 
on the board will help members to "start" thoughts. Build 
the opening talk — whether by the leader or a selected per- 
son — around three or four words or sentences, displayed be- 
fore their eyes. Write five or six questions relating to the 
subject on the blackboard, and invite the members to answer 
any one of them. Scatter verses to be read in the order they 
are numbered, without being called for. Write a question 
with the verse, the answer to.be read. Permit any one to 
make additional comments. 

Backward What will you do with the backward? Give one a 
verse to read. To another give a slip asking him to explain 
that particular passage when it is read. The reader will 
have his own idea, and will watch to see if the explanation 
coincides with his own. There may be more or less differ- 
ence. This will be likely to cause a study of exegesis. The 
two people will not easily forget that verse. Pass slips of 
paper on which the timid ones are to write their testimonies, 
answer a question, or give their interpretation of a Scrip- 
ture verse. They may be permitted to prepare this a few 
hours or days ahead. If on a general subject, such as tith- 
ing or missions, a few of the best might be printed and cir- 
culated later. 
Hymn Study popular or commonly used songs and hymns for 
^ °'^^ a few minutes each evening. What an inspiration comes to 
us from a knowledge of how a hymn is written! Select 
some one, or let different members be prepared, to give the 
history of one hymn in a few written words each Sunday 
evening. One entire service might be given to "My favorite 
song, and why?" 

Interesting How little Scripturc we can repeat these days! Few 
imitate the Master in hiding it away in the heart for the 



Young People Organized for Service 

day of trial. Find a way to encourage quoting Scripture 
from memory. Suppose at the roll-call each person responds 
with a new verse committed that week. Let all report how 
many have been learned during the month. Report the 
number for each person every month, or else make them 
count in a "red" and ''blue" contest carried on for new 
members, Church prayer-meeting attendance, and prompt- 
ness at the devotional meeting. One enterprising secretary Attendance 
keeps a strict account of attendance and participation, and '^^''"'^ 
each month mails a postal card, giving to each member his 
record. 

Have a "correspondence" meeting. Get letters from all Correspond- 
former members and pastors. Let each member secure a monies 
letter from some sweet-spirited, Christian friend, from some 
noted Christian leader, -or from some successful business 
man. The secretary may be asked to gather such letters 
himself. All may cluster around one question, as, "Why 
am I a Christian?" "What has helped me most in the 
Christian Life?" "What led me to Christ?" etc. Or the 
letters may take the form of greetings, or heart-inspiring 
testimony. 

Push Bible-study by some means or other. More testi- Bible study 
mony should cluster around Scripture read or quoted. The 
Bible-study class may not be large. A good secretary could 
give a brief report at each devotional meeting of the thoughts 
brought out and facts learned. It would create an appetite 
for more. 

A practical Personal Workers' Drill will often furnish Personal 
ammunition for Christian soldiers. Take a concrete case drill ^" 
and use ten minutes of the League service by permitting 
the members to read or quote Bible passages to fit it. An- 
nounce the "case" a week ahead. To make it vivid, let some 
member impersonate the seeker or opposer. Invite the Bible 
teacher of the English Bible in some near-by college to come 

L OF C 99 



contest 



testimonies 



Workable Plans for Widd-Awake Churches 

and advise the members concerning the best methods and 
the light-giving books for Bible-study. Ask him questions. 
Give him five or ten minutes to kindle the fires for enthu- 
siastic study. If this is impossible, get any teacher, or lay- 
man even, who knows what he is talking about. It might 
not be amiss to have some one give a sane explanation of 
Higher Criticism. Young people have a smattering of its 
meaning, and' are sometimes led to minimize the Book. The 
''Old Book" never stood on so firm a foundation as now. 
Sunshine Divide the members into two divisions under a captain 
for each, and start a contest to see which side can gather 
the most encouraging facts concerning the progress of Chris- 
tianity. Call it a ''sunshine meeting" when they report. 
Timid Miss Haus, of St. Louis, suggests the following: Select a 
verse of Scripture related to the topic, and write it at the top 
of a piece of paper. Write on the back the names of five 
timid members. Hand it to the first, one week before the 
meeting, requesting that a sentence of testimony or thought 
concerning the verse be written beneath it. The first person 
hands it to the second on the list, and so on until all have 
had it. At the meeting have some one read all the com- 
ments at once. 
Spelling The Lake Avenue Congregational Church Christian 

match 

Endeavor, of Pasadena, has a "spelling match method for 
testing the number of committed Scripture verses which can 
be given. Sides are chosen, and each in order, after six 
months of preparation, must locate and repeat correctly 
verses of Scripture. Judges decide debated questions, and 
award the winning side. 
Committee The prayer-mecting committee of the Jeffersonville 
IS n u .on ^ p^^ ^ Presbyterian society divides Its work in this way. 
One member notifies each leader a short time in advance 
of his meeting. Another will see that some appropriate 
motto or thought about the topic is placed on the blackboard. 

loo 



Young People Organized for Service 

Another keeps a record of the part taken by each member, 
and gives a list of those who have not taken some part, 
aside from singing, in the two previous meetings to another 
member (not necessarily connected with that committee), 
who will remind them of the fact and try to persuade them 
to participate in the coming meetings. Two other members 
of the committee give verses on the topic to the younger 
persons who are not very experienced in participating. In 
this way each one has something to do. Of course, these 
duties should be shifted occasionally, so that each can get 
used to the different lines of work. 

The Epworth League of the St. John's Methodist Epis- siereopticon 
copal Church, South, found it necessary to use some unusual 
method to keep up the attendance at the devotional meet- 
ing when the conclusion of the World's Fair depleted the 
crowd in St. Louis. They secured an expert to give a series 
of stereopticon lectures on subjects related to the regular 
topic. This opened the subject and attracted large crowds, 
which came on time. Twelve hundred pictures were used 
in the series. 

The Boise City (Idaho) Epworth League fills out the Devotional 
following report, and mails it to every member monthly: 

Dear Leaguer, — Our books show your November record to be 
as follows: 

Number devotional meetings held during the month 

Number ivhich you attended 

Number times you participated 

Number times tardy 

Number prayer-meetings 

Number you attended 

Subscription per month, $ Amount noijo due, $ 

Sincerely, Secretary. 

What a treasure of a secretary that League has! 

The Kent Street Reformed Christian Endeavor 

101 



Workable Plans for Wide-Awake Churches 

Society, of Brooklyn, uses a novel plan for registering the 
members who attend the Sunday evening service. Each En- 

Baiiot deavorer writes his name on a slip, and places It In a ballot 
atten ance ^^^^ r^^^ presIdcnt presIdcs over the ballot-box, and ex- 
tends to each voter a cordial greeting. This Is a good plan 
for stimulating attendance, whenever that stimulus Is needed. 

Street The young people of the First Methodist Church, Los 
Angeles, hold a street meeting every Sunday afternoon at 
five P. M. They thus reach a great many people In that 
summer-land city who never go Inside a church. It Is no 
longer poor form to sing and speak on the street. Many 
young people's organizations may go two or three blocks 
from the church and sing and pray on the corner for a few 
moments, and then march back, singing, to their regular 
evening service. It will be a refreshing change to move the 
chairs to the church lawn for an occasional summer's devo- 
tional meeting. It will awaken the neighborhood, as well 
as freshen the members. 

Study Classes and Other Activities 

Bible No Church should rest satisfied without some form of 
a young people's systematic Bible-class. The Christian En- 
deavor Societies and the Epworth Leagues have been using 
''Studies In the Life of Christ" and "Studies In the Apos- 
tolic Church," and "Studies in the Old Testament," com- 
piled by T. E. and S. E. Taylor and C. H. Morgan. They 
are very concise and reliable. Each covers the subject In 
thirty-five lessons. Often a pastor has prepared or discov- 
ered a convenient course. Or the local teacher may desire 
to pursue a special line. Usually, however, the official 
course is most desirable, both for inspirational purposes 
(spirit is aroused by the knowledge that twenty thousand are 
studying the same book), and because experts have prepared 
the most fitting text-book for the people who will use it. 

102 



Young People Organized for Service 



Such a class can be gathered after the Church prayer-meet- 
ing, if a special night can not be spared. In the same way Personal 
a personal workers' class could study "The Art of Soul 
Winning," by Rev. J. W. Mahood, one of the finest books 
ever published on the subject. The Mission Study class Missions 
will insure and build a spirtual life in the League, as well 
as teach liberality. The early morning hour private devo- Watch 
tion custom should be encouraged. 

It is impossible to carry on all the "Study Classes" in a choose 
majority of the Churches. Local conditions will decide 
which is the most needy subject. Choose at least one, and 
make it a success. 

The First Church, Los Angeles, Epworth League con- Practical 

. . ,1- ,1 illustration 

ducts one mission among the Japanese, and another among 
the Chineses in their city, under their missionary department. 
This gives them a practical touch with "foreign missions." 
This same department constantly seeks to get the young Tithe 
people to sign the "tithing pledge." This is an important 
work. Young people forming the habit will follow it all 
their lives. How much this may mean to the kingdom! 
Certainly every one of them should be shown, by distributed 
tracts, personal conversation, and in public meetings, the 
privilege of giving the kingdom at least one-tenth of their 
income. 

The same society took care of forty little folks in one Nursing 
month in a Sunday morning Church nursery. Many par- 
ents were thus enabled to attend and enjoy public worship. 

A Chicago Christian Endeavor Society gave their pastor Surprise 
a pleasant surprise recently. Without his knowledge they 
secured the names and addresses of a large number of the 
Church members who did not attend prayer-meeting. Each 
one of these was then sent a pressing invitation to attend on 
a given evening, and thus surprise and encourage their pas- 
tor. Though the evening was bad, the attendance was more 

103 



Workable Plans for Wide-Awake Churches 

than double what It had ever been. With a smile of heart- 
felt satisfaction, the pastor said at the close of the meeting: 
''That 's the kind of surprise party I like. God bless those 
that made the plans, and those that accepted the invitation!" 
Let other young people gladden a heart in the same w^ay 
and also enlarge the attendance. 
Country City young people's organizations in many Eastern sec- 

and city 

tions have formed a plan with similar country or small town 
organizations for entertainment of visitors. City people like 
to visit the country in summer, and it is a rare treat for 
rural residents to visit the city in winter. One society will 
entertain six in the country for a week, and then later the 
city will take care of six from the country. 

The Social Life 

Suburban London Heights K. C. K. young people were splendidly 



visit 



entertained at the Leavenworth Young Men's Christian As- 
sociation rooms by the First Methodist Episcopal Church 
young people of that city some months ago. A trolley car 
was chartered, and every mile of the twenty was filled with 
noise and joy. Hundreds of different Church organizations 
will find and do good by taking a summer evening trolley 
ride to a near-by small town or suburban church. Arrange- 
ments can be made for supper at a minimum rate. A man- 
dolin club will add interest, if taken along. A cheer-up 
program may be rendered for the ones visited. 
Assignment One body of young people put four consecutive socials 
into the hands of as many different regular committees. 
Each section then vied with the others to see which furnished 
the most original, attractive, and happy social. 
Society The following method was employed by a Cleveland 

divided , . ri • 

Christian Endeavor Society to clear up a deficit of sixty dol- 
lars. The society was divided into four companies, each 
under the leadership of a captain. The aim was that each 

104 



Young People Organized for Service 

company should raise at least ten dollars, and the company 
that first raised its prescribed amount was to be given some 
honor by the others. One company held a lawn fete, and 
gained fifteen dollars. Another company sold aluminum 
cases containing portraits of the pastor and view^s of the 
church. The other companies combined to give a crazy 
supper, w^hich was much enjoyed. The result was that the 
society w^as speedily out of debt, and the company first 
named were the guests of honor at a Hallow-e'en social. 

Churches in tourist cities like Los Angeles and Denver state 
will afford pleasure to many and attract general attention by "^^"^ 
giving receptions and socials to the residents of different 
States. Secure the most prominent representatives formerly 
living In the selected State for the program. It need not be 
religious. Decorate w^Ith distinctive flowers; e. g., sun- 
flowers will fit Kansas. Choose refreshments that recall the 
old home; e. g., baked beans for New England. 

Commencement time receptions are general. Another "c 
one might be added with profit. The Church should catch 
the attention of the students. Why not arrange a reception 
to them? Invite only graduates, or the whole school, with 
the outgoing class as the guests of honor. This might be 
extended to high schools. If so, Invite a representative of 
the nearest Methodist college to deliver a short address to 
them. Acquaintance w^Ith the college Is thus Insured, and 
attendant students may result. Business colleges In the town 
could be treated In the same way. They would appreciate 
It. Experience has proven that results follow. 

The Wesleyan Guild, the young people of English Meth- Vacation 
odism, work a vacation fund plan successfully. Each mem- 
ber pays so much a week, for two or more months. Into the 
treasury. Money soon accumulates. A * 'party" can travel 
more cheaply than an Individual. The whole group votes 
on the place and time of the trip, so that there w^IU be no 



ommence- 
ment" 



Workable Plans for Wide-Awake Churches 

dissatisfaction afterwards. The treasurer pays the bills 
while traveling. Money is saved, trips are made, fellowships 
cemented that would otherwise be lost. 
Pastor's The following taken from the Epworth Herald is sug- 

reception 

gestive : 

The East Park League, when their former pastor was returned 
to them, varied the usual formal address of welcome and response 
by using the following program, having the same printed on white 
cardboard, 3^x5^ inches in size, and distributed through the 
audience : 

Music. Prayer. Music. Toasts. 
What Do We Need? 

The Sunday-school Response by Superintendent. 

The Epworth League Response by President 

The Lay Members Response by a Member. 

The Official Board Response by an Official Member. 

The Pastor .^. Response by the Pastor. 

Conversation. 
"Eat, drink, and be merry." 

On the reverse side were printed an Epworth League 
design, the name of the Church and date, and then this: 

Conversation. 

(Five minutes for each topic.) 

How Can We Get 

1. What the Sunday-school needs? 

2. What the Epworth League needs? 

3. What the lay members need? 

4. What the Official Board needs? 

5. What the pastor needs? 

At the close of the toasts those present secured a partner to con- 
verse with during each five minutes by writing their names on each 
other's cards in the usual way. At the close of the conversation 
refreshments were served. A formal printed invitation was sent to 
every member of the Church either by mail or messenger. 

106 



Young People Organized for Service 

The young men will enjoy giving the young ladies a Young men 
reception. Here are some subjects treated in bright, spicy 
speeches at such an occasion: ''The Prospector," "The 
Losers," "For the Fun of It," "What Next?" 

The St. Louis Christian Advocate gives the foUow^ing Calendar 
plan for a pleasant entertainment: "Portions of the vestry^"'"'"" 
were assigned respectively to the married people, single 
people, two boys' classes, and a girls' society, in which to 
display collections of calendars. Blue ribbons were awarded 
to each of the several classes. The result was amazing; the 
large vestry and small vestry and two class-rooms were liter- 
ally papered with calendars. There was one from nearly 
ever>^ State in the Union, and there were many from foreign 
countries. An immense calendar w^as built on the platform, 
the illustrations of which were a series of tableaux for the 
holidays, which, with music by the orchestra, constituted the 
entertainment." 

Grace Church Epworth League, Denver, makes an an- Washington 
nual feature of a Washington Birthday Party. Fifteen or party ^'^ 
twenty young men usually agree to hire Colonial suits, and 
authorize one of their number to make the best possible con- 
tract with the costumer. One couple is selected to repre- 
sent Mr. and Mrs. George Washington, while tw^o little 
folk (four and five years old) act as pages, dressed as "Tom 
Thumb" representatives of Mr. and Mrs. Washington. A 
formal reception is then held, with the "Stafi" introducing 
people in the "old" way. One year old soldiers with fife, 
triangle, and drum led a march of costumed men and 
women. Another year the program consisted of "Ye Create 
Singin Skulej" Another year the Church parlors were pre- 
pared so that every one could play games a hundred years 
old. The Junior League had charge of a museum which 
contained all the old family relics, with their history, that 
could be secured. The ladies borrowed ancient dresses and 

107 



Workable Plans for Wide-Awake Churches 

ornaments, and found delight and attracted attention by re- 
lating the history of each. 
Advertising The bill, printed on old-fashioned, brown meat paper, 
read as follows: 
Menu A Lake Villa, Iowa, worker suggests that the tables for 
the Washington Birthday social represent the different 
months, and each person be requested to eat at the table 
representing their birth month. She suggests the following 
arrangement : 

January: Lake In center, snow around, dolls and sleds, snow 
umbrella above. 

February: Portraits of Lincoln and Washington, valentines. 

March: Moving wagons and green ribbons. 

April: Easter eggs and cards, violets. 

May: Dolls dancing around the May pole. 

June : Wreath of roses above, center piece of roses. 

July: Arch of flags over table, doll dressed as Goddess of Lib- 
erty in center. 

August: Harvest sheaves and flowers. 

September: Apples and goldenrod. 

October: Chrysanthemums and nuts. 

November: Papier mache turkey and pumpkins. 

December: Christmas tree. 

Bean The Lcaguc of the First Methodist Episcopal Church, 
Leavenworth, had an interesting social some time ago. Each 
one paid ten cents admission. They were then furnished 
with a little sack containing one hundred beans. Boxes 
packed with all sorts of ridiculous things had been prepared. 
One was filled with sawdust; another held a pair of old 
shoes; another contained a small negro doll, around which 
sixteen or eighteen papers had been wrapped; another had 
been filled with potato peelings. The boxes were sold at 
auction, each bidding so many beans for a box. They were 
then compelled to open them before the crowd. This fur- 
nished much real merriment. At the close refreshments 
were furnished free. 

io8 



auction 



HEARYEIHEARYEIHEARYE! 

Ye Colonial Menne and Wimmin's Tee and 
Singin Skule 




WHICH STANDETH IN DENVER, COLORADO 

Where Y^ Rhoades S. 14th and W. 13th Doe Cross 

ON Y*\ 

Evcoii)^ of Wednesday, \\! he'iiyo y® 22d day of 
y® iT)or)t*b of February, ii) y® year of Our Lord 

MDCCCCV 

Ye full meal consisting of Chicken Pie. Mashed Potatoes. Cabbage 
Salad, Boston Brown Bread, Tea, Coffee, Pumpkin Pie etc., "will be 
served at ye early candle lightin, 5:30 to 8:00 p. m. 

Following ye meal will be Great Singin Skule with ye many noteJ 
singers in costume. 

A SMALL LYSTE OF Ye PYCES 

"Auld Lang Syne" All y® menne and wimmin singers 

One Parte Tune Mistress Peaceful Delight Bowmau 

T,.,^ -D^^^ T„^« Prudence Experience Jones 

Two Parte Tune j^.^^^^^^ Mehitable Pugh 

"Annie Laurie Sung by foure young menne 

Ye music will begin to sound at 8 of ye clock 

Tickets, including ye Supper and Concerte, 35c. 
to ye Concerte, only 15c. 

N. B. TO Ye MEN! Give ye faithful wives a Holiday and ye 
children a treat by spending ye evening with us. 

109 



Workable Plans for Wide-Awake Churches 

Older folk It Is a mistake to limit all the bright fun-glving socials 
to the young people. It Is surprising how the older folk 
enjoy them. Try some "young" game at a meeting of the 
general Church, or where only middle-aged people are pres- 
ent. The young people may well give themselves to the en- 
tertainment of different classes In the Church and not be 
selfishly Isolated. 
Names Stlffncss must bc broken at all hazards. Pin on every 
one's back the name of some author, or some town, or some 
useful article, or some Bible character. Of course, one or the 
other of these classes w^U be used, and not something from 
every one. By questions, and from chance remarks, let them 
discover what or who they represent. Another old plan Is 
more Ice-melting yet. Give each a small sack of beans, say 
twenty-five. Every time one makes another say "yes" or 
**no" by any means, they secure a bean from that person. 
At the end a suitable reward Is given to the one having the 
most and the least beans. 
Saucers Here Is another "bean" game taken from the Christian 
^^""^ Endeavor World: Place a handful of beans In each of a 
number of saucers, and arrange them at Intervals of about 
two feet down the center of a long table. Arrange the con- 
testants along the sides of the table opposite the saucers, 
placing the ladles on one side and the gentlemen on the 
other, and provide each one with two matches. At a given 
word all commence trying to pick the beans out of the 
saucers with the matches. Each bean must be picked up 
between the two matches, and lifted out of the dish onto the 
table. As soon as any one has ten beans picked out, all must 
stop. The beans on each side are counted, and a record Is 
kept. Ten rounds constitute a game. At the close all those 
who have been the first to get ten at any time have another 
contest among themselves. 

no 



Young People Organized for Service 

Present each one with a small notebook, in which they sittnatures 
are to secure the signatures of every other person. They 
must then find the occupation, the birthplace, the favorite 
book or song of that person, and write it under that name. 
If one hundred are present, every one not securing twenty- 
five names should be fined. 

Give each a list of the members of the League. Let them MembersMp 
undertake to find and meet them. As soon as they do so, 
they scratch that name from the list. This definitely brings 
the members together. 

Provide three or four alphabets. Let each person take Forming 
one of the letters. Have eight of one alphabet numbered 
"one," eight numbered "two," etc. Then all those holding 
number "one" gather in one group, and so with the whole 
company. Each group will then see which one can make 
the most words out of the letters in its possession. Different 
methods can be used to group and regroup them. It might 
be better to give them some word, such as "hippopotamus," 
and see how many words the group can make out of it. 

Place a blackboard in the parlor. Call each person up Animals 
and whisper the name of some animal they are to draw. 
Give one or two minutes to complete it. Furnish each 
guest with card and pencil, and let them w^ite their guess 
as to the animal drawn. It may be immediately announced, 
and then at the end the cards be collected and the largest 
number of correct answers noted. 

Take a piece of cardboard about six inches square, and Butterflies 
provide five or six tubes of different colored paints. Fold 
the cardboard, then open, and on one side of the crease 
put two or three tiny piles of paint of different colors. Close 
the card again with the paint on the outside. Use a knife 
against the folded place, spreading the paint, watching the 
stain as it comes through the paper, and shaping it like the 

III 



Workable Plans for Wide-Awake Churches 



half of- a butterfly. Opening it up, you will be surprised to 
see the paints mixed, and an unusually perfect and beautiful 
butterfly will appear. 

Junior Societies 
Fruitful The Junior and Intermediate Departments of young 
people's work are growing in importance and difficulty. It 
is no longer sufficient to sing a few songs, **say" a few testi- 
monies and prayers, and dismiss the meeting. Such work 
does not attract robust, healthy boys, and bright, vivacious 
girls. They demand that something be given them to do, 
either mentally, physically, or spiritually. The course of 
study must make positive and fixed requirements of them. 
The author began definite Christian work at fourteen years 
of age as a Junior superintendent, and the boys and girls, 
now "young people," are the backbone of that Church. The 
same thing is true of the first pastorate, where a Junior soci- 
ety was personally superintended. If a diploma follows a 
fairly graded examination, diligent work is called out. 
Workers' Junior workers in the correspondence courses of Miss Kate 
course j^^ Haus, of St. Louis, and Miss Emma A. Robinson, Chi- 
cago, have unusual opportunities to prepare themselves to 
become experts. 
Single work A Junior superintendent, under no circumstances, should 
teach a Sunday-school class. All her heart, brain, and spir- 
itual strength is needed for this one position. The successful 
Junior leader has tremendous opportunities, and one can af- 
ford to sacrifice much to come into the highest class. The 
Sunday-school must handle a good deal of approximately irre- 
sponsive material, but the Junior society has the "picked" 
boys and girls — the class interested enough in Church and re- 
ligion to go to an extra service. They are usually members 
of the Church, or easily prospective ones, hungry for a better 
religious training. 

The Junior League Headquarters has recently opened 

112 



Young People Organized for Service 



a department to act as a clearing house for new plans. One ciearing- 
superintendent gives a successful program or uses a telling 
plan, and sends it to headquarters to be sent on to some one 
else. 

The Epworth League Board of Control has recently Course of 
engaged an expert children's worker, of fine mental and 
heart preparation, in the person of Miss Emma A. Robin- 
son, to give all of her time to Junior work. She has pre- 
pared a splendid course of study,, covering nine years, begin- 
ning at the age of seven and ending at sixteen. The Junior 
Constitution has been revised, making provision for three 
divisions — Primary, Junior, and Intermediate — each with 
a full set of officers. Three years' study is given to each 
section. The diploma is issued at the end of the Primary 
work, and a seal is added for the completion of each of the 
others. The course covers the following subjects, with a 
brief, bright, appropriate text-book for each: 

Primary Section. 
Bible Stories. Bible Memory Work. 

Stories of Church Benevolences. 

Junior Section. 
Bible Study: Bible Stories of Great Victories. 
Journeys through the Holy Land. 
The Story of the Bible. 
Methodist Catechism. 
Bible Memory Work. 
Heroes of Methodism. 

Intermediate Section. 
Bible Study— Shorter Studies in: 

Old Testament Heroes. 
The Life of Christ. 
The Apostolic Church. 
Church Benevolences. 
Church Government. 
Church History. 
Ten Doctrines of Grace. 



Workable Plans for Wide-Awake Churches 

Organize Gcncral remarks sometimes start minds on a fruitful 
line, hence a few are ventured: Organize the Junior soci- 
eties carefully. Select one or two things to carry out suc- 
cessfully. It is possible to spread over too much territory. 
Do not call the members ''children" or "dears," but boys 
and girls and Juniors. Put something into their hands, so 
that they understand that you expect it to be well done. 

Religious The devotional meeting requires preparatory planning. 

meeting 

Make it brief, quiet, and tender. Expect it to actualize 
Christ's presence. Twenty minutes is usually long enough 
for it. If the prescribed subjects do not suit, choose others. 
At least, have some original related work. Ask the boys 
and girls to commit a verse beginning with the same letter 
as their names; or to learn one with the name of a bird, 
or an animal, or a precious stone, in it. When a subject 
in the summer suggests flowers, ask each Junior to bring 
one or more flowers to be put into a common collection 
and taken to a hospital or a sick person. Mimeograph 
or print a sweet, simple, God-reaching prayer — original or 
discovered — and ask all to commit it for the next service, 
that it may be repeated in concert. Explain the elements 
of prayer, so that each boy and girl can make one around the 
outline. Preface the prayer period with a season of quiet to 
realize the presence of God. If He is near as Friend and 

Songs Brother, it will be easy and natural to talk to Him. Assign 
a hymn to a pupil, and ask him to briefly give the history of 
it the next week. Appoint a new person each Sunday for 
this task. It will stimulate attendance and emphasize the 
presence and importance of the Junior work, if the members 
attend Church in a body. It is attractive to meet in a room 
and march in. 

Cheer The aged are so frequently neglected. How they are 

and help 

heartened by children's visits! Go out on a "charavari," 
stopping at the home of three or four "old folks." Let each 

114 



Young People Organized for Service 

one have a flower to present In person. Find out if, at the 
poor aged people's houses, a boy to split kindling or carry in 
coal will not be welcomed. Assign two to do this work 
every week. 

In small towns a depot Is a most desolate place. Every- oid papers 
body has good papers that are thrown away. Keep a rack 
filled at the "station" with the best reading matter obtain- 
able. Crowed out the poisonous papers at the barber-shop 
with good ones. 

Busy hands bring good things to pass, Instead of ex- 
hausting themselves in mischief — if they are directed. Serv- 
ice habits formed in boyhood and girlhood days stick to 
people for life. 



115 



CHAPTER V. 
The Downtown Church at Work. 

The Dow^ntown Need 

Deserting The downtowii City Church to-day meets a tremendous 
problem. Two hundred thousand moved into the territory 
below Fourteenth Street, New York City, while seventeen 
Episcopalians Protestant Churches moved out. The Episcopalians alone 
are showing an increase in membership in downtown 
Churches. They are able to do it because the wealthy old 
members do not move their certificates with their furniture. 
This probably grows out of the Church's emphasis upon 
the sacredness of its building and the sacraments. So much 
importance is contained in the place and the ceremony that 
the very building becomes sacred to them, as it does to the 
children who are trained there for confirmation. The rector 
also has more influence because of long engendered respect. 
The religious importance of the building and the vital neces- 
sity of the services, recognized by communicants, lead them 
to greater sacrifice and larger loyalty in supporting the in- 
stitution. It is safe to say that they lead all other Churches 
in providing the greatest variety of assistants in reaching the 
downtown masses. Other denominations that meet the peo- 
ple on their own ground and appeal to their spirits through 
their physical needs and desires, will have just as large and 
possibly larger success. 

Settlement houses, charitable assistance, manual training, 
ii6 



The Downtown Church at Work 



and clubs Of all sorts, with every variety of purpose, can Gospel 
never fill the people's needs. They must have the warm, ""^'•"""^ 
hopeful, forgiving, soul-feeding gospel of the Great Brotherly 
Christ. It must be brought to the people in various ways. 
Jesus healed the sick, cleansed the lepers (who may symbolize 
those in helpless captivity to surroundings and habits), and 
preached the gospel to the poor. He lived among the people, 
and spent most of His time drying tears, stopping aches, re- 
leasing captives, curing the ill, and helping the helpless; 
always, as in the case of the woman at the well, watching 
for a chance to tell the story of the Father — God's love. 

Any institution that does not have this ultimate purpose The name 
has no right to the name Church. That denomination vP"ho 
can saturate human appeals and aids with the brightest, best, 
happiest, and heartiest gospel, will win the largest success 
in the downtown regions. We dare not minimize the multi- 
tudinous assistants used so effectively by many city Churches, 
but we must never lose sight of the fact that "man shall not 
live by bread alone." 

Wesleyan City Work 

The Wesleyan city work in England is in many respects Wam,- 
nearly ideal. It is intensely and eternally evangelistic, and 
yet it cares for human needs with it all. One needs but to 
get into their busy, happy, soul-saving atmosphere, to have 
all objections that may arise melt as snow before a spring 
sun. It is easy to criticise, but the man or institution that 
is winning and lifting people answers all adverse arguments. • 

It is impossible to epitomize the work so that it can be McCoik>cii 
understood or properly valued. James E. McColloch, in 
"The Open Church for the Unchurched" presents a recent 
and lucid study of this great English soul-saving work. 

When the London Mission work was proposed, the con- 
117 



Workable Plans for Wide-Awake Churches 

Opposed servative element in the Wesleyan Conference opposed new 
and revolutionary methods and were for a time successful, 
but under the leadership of that master mind and devoted 

Church disciple, Hugh Price Hughes, the progressives won. Many 
Englishmen have been so offended by the Established Church 
that they will not enter a "Church" building. Sin always 
makes folks shy from the Church. Mr. Hughes chose 
St. James Music Hall, holding twenty-five hundred people, 
to begin the West London Mission. The building is just 
off Piccadilly Circus, through which every day five hundred 
Preaching and seventy-onc thousand people pass. Mark Guy Pearse 
West treated deeply spiritual themes in the morning. Mr. Hughes 
handled ethical problems in the afternoon. W. T. Stead 
credits an address at one of these meetings with enlightening 
both Mr. Gladstone and the Irish party as to the impossi- 
bility of retaining Mr. Parnell in leadership after his life 
was uncovered. He touched political problems, where they 
were related to morals, in a moving way. A full brass band 
was used at this service. 

Evening Thc author visited an evening service during the life- 
time of Mr. Hughes. A large orchestra played while the 
people sang old hymns (the regular Hymnal being used) 
with unanimity and enthusiasm. This service was evangel- 
istic. Twenty-five hundred people crowded in, while hun- 
dreds were turned away. A brief prayer service, with the 
preacher and officers, was held preceding the service in a 
small room. After the invitation was given, the men were 
asked to retire to one inquiry room, and the women to an- 
other; To the first the local preachers were sent, and to 
Park the second the ''sisters." On this particular Sunday, while 

""^^'""^ it was raining, different local preachers had taken their place 
in conducting an all-day service in Hyde Park, talking with 
an umbrella over their heads at every shower. 

Saturday night concerts, attractive, but clean and sweet- 
ii8 



The Downtown Church at Work 

ening, were given to a crowded house in St. James Hall, at Concerts 
twelve cents (or six pence) admission. 

jVIr. Hughes counted the "sisters of the people" the most Assistants 
effective assistants, employing only three or four paid male 
associates. The twenty-five or more local preachers gave all 
possible time, which their employment or business would per- 
mit, to the work of the Church. 

Sixty.-four women gave all their time to the mission as sisters of 
"sisters" or "deaconesses." Some paid their own expenses. 
They did not need to leave their particular Church, and so 
six or eight denominations were represented. When a 
woman desired to enter as an assistant, Mrs. Hughes first 
passed on her mental, moral, and spiritual fitness. If she 
was satisfactory, and if she required it, a certain sum was 
agreed upon for support. This varied in different cases; 
e. g., some had relatives to support, while others were alone. 
When the garb was donned, they kept their own first name, 
if it was simple and not already borne by some other "sis- 
ter." Then she was known as "Sister Lily' or "Sister 
Alice," etc. 

Every convert in the Wesleyan City Mission work is Converts 
put into a class, visited, taught, and led to give his experience 
at a weekly meeting. Dozens of classes meet for testimony 
and Bible-study every week in the "West London" houses 
and halls. At these meetings their mites, pennies, or crowns, 
are regularly collected. They are not leeches on uptown 
Churches, but largely self-supporting, and so self-respecting. 

Three other halls are used for services, one of them an Haiu 
emptied Congregational Church, which was magnanimously 
turned over to the Wesleyans. 

The mission carries on every department of work that Depanment 
could be thought of, and so reaches every phase of life. It ° 
has a dying people's home, a cripples' industrial, and work- 
ing girls' home. They hold twenty-two different club meet- 

119 



Workable Plans for Wide-Awake Churches 



ings at three halls every week at night. They employ a poor 
man's lawyer. Mr. Pearse tells us of a tramp who thus 
recovered $50,000 of which he was robbed in early life. 

They keep open a number of dispensaries, meet the trains 
to guard country girls against false friends, visit the jails, 
support and care for a rescue home for girls, send out nurses 
to care for the sick, keep a closet filled with delicacies to be 
carried to invalids, gather flowers to be delivered ta shut-ins 
-Wihom the "sisters" visit and comfort. They hold themselves 
ready to answer all sorts of calls. They find employment 
for the idle. They plead for reinstatement for the dis- 
charged. They serve as messengers for the repentant one, 
dismissed for drink, or carelessness, or dishonesty, and then 
look after him to aid him in keeping his promise if taken 
back. There is always some one to listen to troubles. Sister 
"Lily," the original woman worker, told the author that she 
was sent for by the mistress of a prince. Sewing and cook- 
ing lessons, housekeeping lectures, mother's meetings, day 
nurseries, and countless other agencies are employed to help 
the people. All the workers are alert at every moment to 
tell about Christ, the Great Physician, who can cure every 
ailment. 
Growth The West London Mission opened in 1887 with ten 
members, including two giinisters, three deaconesses, and 
the organist, and facing a promise of $8,000 a year for rent. 
In thirteen years it had seen 20,000 conversions and had 
2,000 members. The Twentieth Century Fund has appro- 
priated $1,250,000 for a building to be erected on valuable 
ground purchased near Westminster Abbey. 
East Rev. Peter Thompson has also done a marvelous work in 

London 

East London, utilizing a brass band, popular week-night 

Saloon meetings, and physical aid assistants. "Paddy's Goose," a 

vile saloon and dance hall, the rendezvous of gamblers and 

120 



The Downtown Church at Work 



thieves, was secured for a mission. According to Mr. Mc- 
Culloch, a London correspondent wrote: "If Origen were 
again in the flesh, he would be stimulated to renewed hope 
of the conversion of the devil, for to-day 'The White Swan,* 
better known as 'Paddy's Goose,' one of the vilest dance halls 
in Ratcliffe Highway, is to be opened as a mission hall by 
the Wesleyans." The former manager of the "hall" was 
converted, and testified at the first meeting. The "Old 
Mahogany Bar," another noted saloon, was similarly trans- 
formed. 

The Wesleyans started a college at Oxford for their Leysian 
young men, with Dr. Moulton in charge. The graduates ""^^'° 
later opened a mission in London called "The Leysian," not 
far from City Road Chapel. It has grown until a few 
months ago the Prince of Wales assisted in the dedication 
of a building valued at $500,000. A boarding house was Boarding 
provided for alumni near the mission, and the inmates were 
thus enabled to be valuable assistants in all departments. 
This has been incorporated into the new building. The raftes 
are $3.25 a week for bed, attendance, and board ; very rea- 
sonable for London. A few besides the graduates are accom- 
modated. A brass band, accompanied by fifty tract distrib- Street 
utors, after tea and prayer together, start out for a march 
on the streets to pull the people out of the saloons and 
houses, and ofF the streets, into the night meeting attended . 
by two thousand people regularly. The whole beautiful Department 
building is alive with the fifty departments of work. There 
are parlors, reading rooms, kitchens, and a billiard room. 
We need not be shocked at the latter. The Warren, Pa., 
Young Men's Christian Association has had billiard and 
pool tables in its rooms for years, and finds that it improves 
rather than lessens the spirituality. Billiards require pure 
skill ; many other home games depend largely on chance. 

121 



Workable Plans for WIde-Awake Churches 

American Missions 

"Missions" Similarly situated and organized "Missions" are located 
in most of the large cities of England, all aggressively 
manned by the Wesleyans. Their term "mission" is dif- 
ferent from ours. The halls they employ are as bright and 
cheery as it is possible to make them, and the buildings are 
Cheap veritable palaces. City mission w^ork, with cheap rooms and 
soup methods, w^ill never reach the downtown masses in 
America. The independent missions run in our cities, often 
with a great blare of trumpets, accomplish little permanent 
results. They have neither the plant, nor the training. Sad 
to say, the charge of Rev. W. F. McMurray, in his "Prob- 
lems of the Down Town Church," that the mission worker 
connected with no Church is usually a man either lazy, or 
one whose record will not stand the light, is true. We can 
not and dare not ease our conscience by pointing to the 
work of these little rooms where fanaticism is preached, and 
only "shouting" meetings are held. We must go about 
things in a much larger way. 

Institutional The tcrm "Institutional Church" is not acceptable to 
many wide-reaching workers. They claim that it appears to 
be an adding adjective when the Church itself means an 
organization that is meeting its time and place by using 
every available means to reach and help people. The word 
Institutional was first used by President W. J. Tucker, 
in an address at Berkley Temple in 1888, when he applied 
it to that Church. The daily paper so reported it, and Berk- 
ley was so christened. 

"Church at Other Churches, working through varied and multiplied 
departments, were similarly named. Rev. Frank Nelson, of 
Cincinnati, in objectmg to the term, when asked what name 
should be applied to this sort of a Church, said, "Call it 
'The Church at Work.' " The idea carried by this name 
is apt. No real Church will be satisfied to remain empty or 

122 



The Downtown Church at Work 

to move out of a neighborhood where there are people to fill 
It. To experience the first is to be convinced that the Church 
is not at work; to do the second Is to imitate Jonah, and run 
away from the work assigned. The downtown Church will 
face facts honestly and exhaust every resource to reach the * 
people. 

The brass band would not hurt our city Churches. It Brass band 
will often fill an otherwise empty room for the Sunday even- 
ing service. We may attract them by every fair means, and 
then see to it that a prayerful atmosphere and a gospel mes- 
sage, tender, direct, and simple, meets them. The street 
parade need not frighten us. Dr. Chapman, in recent cam- 
paigns has led hundreds of Church people through the "Red 
Light District" to a theater where native denizens followed 
and found Christ by the scores. 

Rev. W. J. Dawson, scholarly, dignified, and solid, did Dawson 
It In London, and found even conservative Boston ready to 
join a religious procession through the streets. 

Why do we always permit only the so-called "Liberal" Downtown 
off-color preachers to secure downtown halls or theaters for 
a preaching service? In every city there are "residence" 
Churches that can not support a Sunday evening service. 
What a blessing would come to them and to their city If they 
would conduct an evening service In some downtown hall 
or theater! 

The harvest Is ripe. We must go out and gather the Approval 
sheaves. The ways-that-win are Christ approved ; with that 
seal criticism counts for nothing. Be alert and active, and 
if backed by zeal and love hearers will be found and saved. 

Examples from Churches 

St. George's, New York City, had less than a dozen Rainsford 
families and 250 In the Sunday-school when Dr. Ralnsford 
began work there. In twenty-one years he had 8,200 mem- 

123 



Workable Plans for Wide-Awake Churches 

bers and 2,312 in the Sunday-school, and the Church's an- 
nual budget was $97,576-79. They have about forty-five 
Greer departments of w/ork. St. Bartholomew's, from which Dr. 
Greer was taken to be Bishop Potter's coadjutor, had a sim- 

Berkeieyilar history. When Rev. C. A. Dickinson became pastor 
of downtown Berkeley Temple, he spoke to fifty or seventy- 
five in a room capable of holding twelve hundred. He filled 
it by his new methods that brought the name "Institutional." 

Financial Thc Questiott of finance is a big one. It is difficult to get 
money among this class of people sufficient to carry on the 
high-class work necessary to be done, and yet it is surpris- 
ing what determination will accomplish, and how funds are 
secured from among these poor folk. Scores of saloons exist 
and prosper in the neighborhood. If the saloon is effect- 
ually supplanted, at least some of the money formerly sup- 
porting it will come to the Church. And then a Church 
really touching and lifting* the masses will draw wealth to 
its support, as a well-located lot draws offers from pur- 
chasers. The author was told the other day of a Chicago 
banker who is now looking for the right minister in his 
denomination whom he can back in a great downtown work. 
The experience of the West London Mission in raising its 
thousands of dollars and in eventually attracting the support 
of rich men can be duplicated. Mr. Ford, founder and 
owner of the Youth's Companion, after testing a number of 
other Boston Churches, recognized the successful work being 
done by Ruggles Street Church with a poor building and 
scant financial backing, and came to its assistance up to 
$15,000 a year (one-half of its yearly budget). When he 
died he willed the Church a large sum of money, and now 
one of the strongest men in the Baptist ministry is pastor, 
with three associates and eleven other paid assistants, man- 
aging "philanthropic, industrial,, employment, and Bible- 
school departments" among a great packed neighborhood of 

124 



The Downtown Church at Work 



comparatively poor people. Morgan Chapel, Boston, pre- Morgan 
sents a fine Illustration of courage and faith. An eccentric 
Methodist minister left his Conference a number of years 
ago, built a church of his own, and preached in it. His 
name was Morgan. When he died he willed the property, 
new become valuable, to the Unitarians, with the proviso 
that a ]\Iethodist preacher must always be employed. The 
Unitarians held the trust sacredly and followed the direc- 
tions. A few years ago. Rev. E. J. Helms, on his graduation Helms 
from Boston University, became pastor. His wife had been 
a deaconess. He rented rooms, to live near his work, In the 
heart of a certain kind of "slums." The church building 
was old and wholly unfit for "a Church at Work." He had 
a meager salary, a handful of members, and all his backers 
were Unitarians, certainly not in sympathy with a Methodist 
evangelistic campaign. He went happily to work. At the wide- 
end of one year (fall of 1897), '^^ ^ personal letter he Item- 
ized the following schedule: Sunday, six services; Monday, 
a good citizenship meeting; Tuesday, class-meetings for testi- 
mony and training ; Wednesday, meeting conducted by Tem- 
perance Guild ; Thursday, Working Girls' Club ; Friday, 
Church prayer-meeting; Saturday, concert to keep men away 
from saloons. A nursery cared for children at five cents a 
day, with an average of twenty inmates. A kindergarten 
every morning had an average attendance of twenty. A free 
reading room was open all the time. A Saturday morning 
Industrial School had an average attendance of one hun- 
dred and fifty boys and girls. Temporary employment for 
a thousand and permanent work for a hundred was found 
the preceding winter. A sewing-room was equipped to fix 
up donated clothing. The repaired articles were sold cheaply 
to the needy. The same plan was employed with shoes. 
A wood-yard gave work to temporarily idle men and tested 
tramps. Classes were formed for vocal and instrumental 

125 



Workable Plans for Wide-Awake Churches 

music. A medical mission, with examination and medicine 
at small cost, was operated. Mothers' meetings, with lec- 
tures on sanitation, proper food and its preparation, the care 
of children, etc., were conducted. Baths were furnished for 
Small a small charge. The purpose of this catalogue appears now ; 
expen i ure ^^^ ^j^.^ work was Carried on with an annual expenditure, 
above income, of only $3,180.42. Is it any wonder that in 
four years the hard-headed business men put up a fine new 
modern building freshly equipped for this growing and wide- 
reaching work? To have seen the plant and surroundings 
when Mr. Helms took charge would have completely dis- 
heartened most men. 
Affiliated In many cases, however, in spite of every effort the down- 
town Church is crippled to the limping point for lack of 
funds. The growing custom of strong family Churches 
relating themselves to these Churches is full of promise for 
the future. 
Christ Christ Church, New York City, a branch of the Brick 
Presbyterian Church, because of the support of its mother, 
has just completed a parish house that cost $275,000. It has 
the following equipment for work : 

Basement — Bowling alleys and billiard room for Men's 
Club, boiler rooms and storage. First Floor — General social 
room and men's social room, offices, etc. Second floor — 
Sunday-school hall and general library. Third floor — Sun- 
day-school galleries, pastor's study, and offices. Fourth 
floor — Children's rooms. Girls' Club rooms, cooking school, 
gymnasium and showers, and resident's quarters. Fifth 
floor — Roof garden, Boys' Club, janitor's quarters. 

The ''Church of the Covenant" is also related to the 
Brick Church, and receives annually over $6,000 in assist- 
ance. 

Markham Memorial Presbyterian Church, St. Louis, is 
in collegiate relations with the First Presbyterian Church, 

126 



The Downtown Church at Work 

which furnishes $4,000 a year toward its current expenses. 
Rev. Dr. Strong, pastor of Second Congregational Church, 
Oak Park, Chicago, writes: ''Our Church is 'yoked' with Markham 
four weaker Churches in Chicago, with one of them officially, "yoTed'^ 
but all of them actually. We send about fifty workers into 
the city each week, eight miles. This is the best work of the 
Church for others and for itself." 

The location of the downtown Churches is usually stra- 
tegic. The Markham Memorial Presbyterian Church, St. 
Louis, prints a map of the territory for blocks around their 
church. The map shows that it is the only English Prot- 
estant Church in a territory of twenty blocks by fourteen 
square. It has 394 members, 258 of whom live in this 
territory, and 1,185 Sunday-school members, 1,100 of whom 
live in the district. Different marks are made on the map 
to show the location of members, of Sunday-school pupils, 
of parochial schools and Catholic churches and of saloons. 
It makes a wonderfully impressive outlay, sure to arouse Work 
sympathy and support. The following details in As annual 
report will give a slight idea of some of the work done by 
this Church: The "Church visitor" made 1,949 calls, 12 
hospital visits, conducted seven mothers' meetings during the 
year. A girl's cooking class had an enrollment of twenty- 
six, taxing the rooms and tables. The gj^mnasium classes 
had a total attendance of from one hundred to one hundred 
and twenty per week. Three basket-ball teams have been 
organized among the young men. The senior team is in 
the lead in the race for the pennant in the Church League. 
Mothers' meetings were held every month during the win- 
ter. Practical talks were made on health, household manage- 
ment, the care of children, temperance, etc. There was al- 
ways a social hour following the program. The attendance 
was from 60 to 125. The sewn'ng-school had an average 
attendance of 133. Material used, 142 yards unbleached 



Workable Plans for Wide-Awake Churches 

muslin; 48 yards India linen; 151 yards flannelette; 55 yards 
gingham. Finished articles: Patches 572 (made into quilts 
for prizes); 165 handkerchiefs; 132 pillow-slips; 44 skirts; 
II aprons; 3 doilies. Unfinished articles: 36 handkerchiefs; 
14 pillow-slips; 40 skirts; 31 aprons; 9 dollies. Total, 
1,057. A Penny Bank, now open every Thursday -evening, 
has forty-eight depositors. 

Pleasure A prominent pastor once objected to his Church running 
^* ^ a gymnasium because the people would not longer think of 
Church as connected with religion only. It was suggested 
that with this accessory to furnish pleasure that even their 
social joys would recall the Church and its Christ. The 
Brick Presbyterian Church arranges to take working girls 
to the country for their vacation. A rate Is secured of four 

Working dollars a week at an old farm-house out of the city. The 
girls pay as much of this as they can raise (this averages 
two dollars a week), and the Church fund makes up the 
balance. They also provide in their Church House for 
social dances, so that the girls and boys need not attend one 
upstairs over a saloon. 

The Babcock Club, named after Maltble Babcock, their 
deceased pastor, is composed of girls over sixteen, who are 
taught by paid instructors dressmaking, embroidery, calis- 
thenics, millinery, and cooking. Dues are twenty-five cents 
a month, and it has one hundred and twenty members. 

Literary The Boys' Club havc a literary society annex that debates 
with other clubs and trains Its members by practice. 

Mothers' The Mothers' Club has travel talks, informal lectures, 
music, and dancing. 
Coal A Coal Club is organized In both missions. The mem- 
bers make weekly deposits during the summer, and then 
fuel Is bought for them at wholesale vs^hen winter comes. 
Bethany Presbyterian Church, Philadelphia, has a similar 
Coal Club. 

128 



The Downtown Church at Work 

F. B. Meyer, G. Campbell Morgan, and dozens of other Men 
English Churches have a P. S. A. (pleasant Sunday after- 
noon) for men. Here they come, without dressing up, to 
hear good music, a cheery address, and enjoy sociability at 
the close. The Leysian Mission has regularly from a thou- 
sand to twelve hundred men. 

Wealthy and strong Christ Methodist Church, Pitts- Coffee- 
burg. Pa., has recently opened a coffee-house in that city 
called "The People's Club." The first floor is devoted to 
restaurant and reading-room purposes; the second to sleep- 
ing quarters. It is a three-cent eating house, with everything 
clean and of the best grade. The beds are rented for twenty- 
five cents a night, and are fitted up to attract the better class 
of young men, who will not go to the cheaper lodging houses 
run by Christian organizations. The expenses are borne by 
Christ Church, but the work is in charge of the Salvation 
Army. It is planned to open a chain of coflFee-houses over 
the city something like the Temperance Lunch Houses in 
England and Ireland. 

The London Woman's Christian Temperance Union HacUen 
supply the shivering hackmen with hot coffee at cost, in mov- 
able sheds often erected on the streets near the hack stands. 

A New Bedford, Mass., Church took care of seven thou- "Strikers" 
sand strikers, by opening special reading and game rooms, 
and by giving attractive concerts. Order was preserved 
and the strike more quickly settled as a result. 

St. Bartholomew's, New York City, has a loan fund Loan fund 
for poor people. From June i, 1901, to June i, 1902, 892 
loans, averaging $97 each, were made. The amount used 
was $87,070, but receipts and disbursements amounted to 
$I77»555- There was not a single foreclosure. One loan 
for $45 and one for $90 were unpaid, but would be collected. 
In 1900 three-eights of one per cent was lost; in 1901 not a 
cent. One and one-half per cent per month was charged, 
9 129 



Workable Plans for Wide- Awake Churches 

and on a capital stock of $35,000 they did the aforesaid busi- 
ness, paid $578.66 State taxes, all expenses, and cleared 

$1,905.33. 
Savings Miss Marian Messemer, Fourth Avenue and Twenty- 
second Street, New York City, will supply savings stamps 
to any pastor who wants to help his folks lay up money. 
Kansas City, Mo., school boys and girls thus saved nearly 
$50,000 in four years. 
Employment Evcry Church should have some sort of an employment 

bureau .^ , 

bureau. A Denver pastor placed an advertisement m a want 
column and found a good place for a young man. The pas- 
tor can often find positions, and should make it his business 
to keep in close touch with large employers of labor, so that 
they would honor his letters of introduction. Assistance 
in securing position gives a grip on the individual not easily 
shaken off. 
London The London Children's Home and Orphanage began 
home when Thomas Bowman Stevenson (still alive, and the Eng- 
lish correspondent of the Christian Advocate) was appointed 
in 1869 to the Lambeth Circuit, with special care of a 
chapel on Waterloo Road, London, after eight years in the 
ministry. Poverty and vice were all around him. A poor 
lad crawled into his heart, and was taken into his home. 
Soon the loft of the barn was fixed up for a dormitory for 
twenty lads. This grew until now they have handled about 
7,000 orphans, annually caring for 1,500, and expending 
close to $200,000. While outsiders serve on the Board, it 
is under the direction of the English Wesleyan Church. 
According to their annual report, ''Children of all Churches 
and children of no Churches are received, of all ages, -with 
all kinds of physical disabilities. We have many cripples, 
epileptics, maimed, blind, deaf and dumb." 
Protestants Thc Protcstants are slowly recogoizing that a religion 
that cares for the orphans, sick, and aged appeals to the 

130 



The Downtown Church at Work 

world. Many of the most loyal Roman Catholic supporters 
came out of Orphanages run by "sisters." Many local 
Churches can solve the problem by starting in a small way, 
or at least often by interesting individuals. Children's needs 
always appeal to people. In Denver, Mrs. Elizabeth M. Byers 
Byers has built a home holding thirty boys, which she 
largely supports. In early life a brother who loved boys 
agreed with her that girls could always find a home, while 
boys were compelled to shift for themselves. In a provi- 
dential way, after her loved brother's death, a small boys* 
home, after a failure by others, was thrown into her hands. 
With Titian-like courage, through countless discourage- 
ments, she supported and managed it. To-day Mr. W. W. 
Crawford, a marvel with boys and a consecrated Christian 
man, handles thirty boys wnth only a hired cook. No private 
home is kept more neatly or more orderly. The boys come 
in a body to public worship and Sunday-school, walking 
regularly about four miles. Nearly all are members of the 
Church. A number of high-toned, clean-cut, competent 
young men have gone out to responsible positions in the city. 
Many wild and outcast boys, who would otherw^ise have been 
ruined wrecks, have been developed into American princes 
by this sweet. Christian home atmosphere. 



131 



CHAPTER VI. 
Successful Sunday Evening Services. 

Guarding the Sabbath 

Books Several books have recently come from the press deal- 
ing with the Sunday evening service alone. They have been 
eagerly purchased. The first question recently asked by a 
committee looking for a pastor for a large Church, when one 
was recommended, was, ''Can he command a Sunday night 
audience?" This problem tests a man's ingenuity, strength, 
and consecration. Many start In hopefully, but end dis- 
mally. There are some communities where it seems impos- 

Gaia day slblc to draw the people out Sunday night. Sad to say, in 
certain social circles the evening Is now used for large dinner 
parties and receptions. Once It was counted sinful to even 
make a friendly call at any time during the rest day. That 
view has happily changed. Some visits sweeten and spirit- 
ualize both the caller and the one called upon, more than the 
religious service of that day ; yet anything that makes Sunday 
a gala day, and causes one to lose Its restful, religious, and 
' home-building atmosphere, should be positively condemned. 

EoropeanThe European Sabbath must never get a foothold In Amer- 
ica. The Germans crowd their cathedrals on Sunday morn- 
ing, and their beer gardens and friendly drinking clubs in 
the afternoons. This is but their way of holding receptions 
and giving fashionable dinner parties. In a large Western 
city the Episcopalian rector had the windows of his house 

132 



Successful Sunday Evening Services 

broken and his life threatened by a Sunday evening mob, Sunday 
because he carried on a successful fight to close the Sunday 
theater. Not until the fearless, conscientious. Christian Gov- 
ernor J. W. Folk took the initiative, did cities think It pos- 
sible to close the saloons on Sunday. Even President Roose- 
velt questioned its advisability in New York City, but did 
it because the law so directed. The chief of police of Kansas Kansas City 
City, Mo., a city of over two hundred thousand people, ^"''"^^ 
recently gave his first annual report since the saloons were 
closed on the ''First Day" of the week. "Absence of noisy 
crowds on the streets. Decrease in arrests for drunkenness 
of 80 per cent. Decrease in crime of all kinds of 75 per 
cent. Fights and brawls very Infrequent. Where formerly 
there were twenty-five or thirty patrol wagon calls on each 
Sunday there are now fewer than half a dozen, and fre- 
quently none at all." These are only a few encouraging 
sections from his report. 

Two Sunday Services 

The cities with amusement parks are thronged Sunday Amusemeni 
afternoons and evenings, while the streets are filled with 
moving people. In the rush and hurry of modern life there 
is some excuse for people remaining at home Sunday evening 
for family culture and the nurture of home religion; but 
when other attractions get their thousands to secularize, if 
not demoralize them, the splendid machinery, brains, and 
spirit power of every Church ought to be able to get an 
audience in some place, if not in their own church building, 
then in a downtown hall or mission. 

A short time ago the Christian Endeavor World had a Sj 
symposium on the subject of a "second sermon, or service," 
on Sunday. Should ever}' pastor preach in the evening? 
This is a vital question, since an ever-increasing number of 
Churches hold but one preaching service a day, while others 

133 



attractions 



Jymposium 



Workable Plans for Wide- Awake Churches 

have only a handful present at the second one. Here are a 
few conclusions: 

Rev. W. R. Harshaw: "I am disposed to think that no 
man can preach two good sermons each Sabbath and attend 
to the multiplied duties of a parish In a village or small 
city." Rev. B. F. Whlttemore: "Where evening audiences 
could not be secured, I made the evening service a continu- 
ation of the morning discussion." Rev. Tennis S. Hamlin: 
*'I think we are coming to one service In Church on the 
Lord's Day; the afternoon or evening could be profitably 
devoted to meetings In halls, etc., for non-church goers." 
Rev. Nehemlah Boynton: "I am sure the time Is not far 
away when many family Churches will be closed Sunday 
evenings, and the minister and his choice workers and fine 
choir will be found In those parts of the city where 'evening 
fishing' Is good. May God hasten the day !" Rev. Way land 
Hoyt: "I deplore the giving up of the evening service." 
Rev. John Balcomb Shaw: "Our doors are open every night 
in the week." Rev. Charles M. Sheldon: "Have always 
held that two sermons a week are more than any minister 
can prepare without neglecting his parish In other ways." 
Rev. David Gregg: "One fine service and one good sermon 
are all that normal Churches need or can effectively utilize. 
The family should stay at home and talk over the morning 
service and sermon at night." Rev. Stephen A. Northup: 
"Take out the second sermon and the Church will not suc- 
ceed and the gates of hell will prevail." Rev. A. C. Dixon: 
"Two sermons are not too much for the average Christian." 
Lose The morning sermon and service so liberate and start 
*" ^"" the powers, that the second service can be comparatively 
easy. Few wide-awake, healthy, consecrated men are willing 
to lose the opportunity for collecting and speaking good 
cheer to the vast throng who might be brought to a Sunday 

134 



Successful Sunday Evening Services 

night service. The determined and versatile man can get Criticism 
a hearing somewhere. But to get people modern methods 
must be employed, and a man must be even willing to stand 
sharp criticism. He needs an old motto, ''Be sure you are 
right, then go ahead." Follow this fearlessly and faithfully, Sunshine 
and results are sure. It is usually easier in these days to get "" "" * 
a morning than an evening audience. Denver is one of the 
hardest places in the land to succeed in this respect, and, as 
a rule, has smaller evening congregations. Many come for 
health, and are ordered to be out of doors as much as pos- 
sible. The sun shines so constantly and invitingly as to make 
the prescription easy to take. All city Churches have many 
counter attractions to combat. More secular work is carried 
on than formerly. Street car rides weary people in the after- 
noon, and make early retirement attractive. Parks allure 
them Sunday evenings. Rest, books, and company hold them 
at home winter evenings. 

Do You Succeed with a Sunday Evening Service ? 

Every pastor corresponded with put special time and 
effort on his evening services. Here are some of the Evangelistic 
details given in letters. The general plan is to have 
special, popular subjects treated briefly and surrounded 
with the best and most varied kinds of music. Nearly all 
make the service evangelistic and push for conversions. 
C. M. Boswell, formerly Philadelphia Methodist City Mis- 
sionary, says: "Good singing, pointed and direct preaching, 
a band of men inside of the altar, and sinners converted, did 
the work. When It was noised abroad that we had sinners 
on their knees, the people came in crowds." Rev. A. C. 
Dixon says: "The evening service is often larger than the 
morning, and we make it evangelistic. There is scarcely a 
Sunday without conversions." Rev. Courtlandt Myers says: 
"Rarely pass a week but that anywhere from one to four 

135 



Workable Plans for Wide- Awake Churches 

hundred are inquiring the way to Christ." The question 
asked was: "Do you succeed with a Sunday evening service? 
If so, how?" Rev. M. P. Boynton : ''Never setting any 
traps to place the unsaved In conspicuous relations to the rest 
of the audience. After-meeting In the auditorium, and Invi- 
tation to stand or come forward." Rev. C. B. Mitchell: 
"'Preach my best sermons at night. Have after-services. 
Will soon have receptions to young men and women after 
Sunday night service, with light refreshments." Rev. W. B. 
Hinson: "By regarding it of prime importance." Rev. J. W. 
Brougher: "For ten years I have never seen a Sunday night 
that my church was not crowded. M^ke it evangelistic, and 
draw the net every Sunday night." Rev. J. H. Hopkins : 
"By the finest music, the most earnest preaching we can 
provide. Special attention to strangers. Never close during 
summer." Rev. W. M. Smith : "Congregation fully as good 
as morning, often better. Preach to young people; often 
have special services. . . . Sometimes have preludes on 
the gospel Illustrated by current events. Have strong social 
committee to welcome strangers." Rev. F. T. Rouse: "Close 
the night services two months in the summer, but hold fre- 
quent meetings in the park." Rev. E. L. Powell: "A plan 
which we have adopted is a monthly meeting, coming the 
last Sunday night in each month, in one of the large theaters 
in the city. Hundreds of people come to these services who 
do not attend any other Church service. We have found 
these meetings to be of wonderful influence and power. 
Our audiences always test the capacity of the building." 
Rev. Dillon Bronson: "Do not succeed. This Is a rich resi- 
dence community. Very few will go to Church more than 
once a Sunday." Rev. George C. Peck: "We have from a 
thousand to fifteen hundred on Sunday evenings. I never 
advertise subjects. Preach a straight, eager gospel, and look 
for results." Rev. C. L. Kloss: "Evening service as largely 

136 



Successful Sunday Evening Services 

attended as morning. Plain gospel sermon." Rev. D. G. 
Downey: "My Sunday evening congregation has always been 
the largest. I strive to be at my best in this service and 
preach the gospel in terms of to-day, with illustrations from 
literature and-life of to-day." Rev. C. R. Scoville: "Yes. 
It is our greatest service. We make it evangelistic the year 
round." Rev. F. E. R*. Miller: "Yes, fill the house. Just 
preach the gospel of love, for the sinner, judgment, and retrf- 
bution, for all I 'm worth, and then clinch It In after-meet- 
ings." Rev. W. H. Day: "Yes. We always have an audi- 
ence worth preaching to. Courses of Bible exposition. 
Courses on practical topics, stereoptlcon sermons, travel talks, 
and evangelistic musical services." Rev. F. N. Calvin : "Yes. 
Nearly always have a full house. By good song service and 
earnest, up-to-date sermon." Three pastors. Rev. John Fa- Men's 
ville, Rev. W. A. Bartlett, and Rev. F. T. Rouse, trace """^ 
their success to the Sunday evening men's club. Dr. Rouse 
has used it for twelve years. Rev. John Faville claims it as 
the child of his twin brother. Rev. Henry Faville, of 
La Crosse, and himself. The plain is worthy of consider- 
ation. 

In 1892, Henry Faville .organized the men of his parish Non-church 
"to increase the Interest and effectiveness of the Sunday even- 
ing service." All men of whatever or no Church who are 
willing to help make an evening service effective were taken 
in as members. The officers are changed quarterly, and the 
committees monthly. Of the four hundred micmbers at 
Peoria, nearly two hundred were not Church members. It 
increased the evening attendance four-fold. The club, by 
dues of a dollar annually and the evening collection, pay for 
the evening music and programs. This averaged $17.30 ac 
week for the first year. The reception committee greets 
people at the door. The usher committee supplies twelve 
ushers every week. The music committee solicits members 



ommitteee 



Workable Plans for Wide- Awake Churches 

for the choir and orchestra. The social committee arranges 
banquets and entertainments. It has, in addition, a pro- 
gram, printing, invitation, and membership committee. They 
frequently arrange for other speakers than the pastor for 
Sunday evening. The programs are elaborate and costly. 
The business meeting is held at the close of the evening serv- 
ice the last Sunday of every month. " The anniversary meet- 
ing is made very important. 
Supper table W. A. Bartlctt pubHshcs a list of the members of his 
men's club and gathers them around a supper table at the 
church, preceding the Wednesday evening prayer-meeting 
once a month to discuss the Sunday evening service and de- 
vise ways and means. 
Sheridan Onc of thc most practical and welltwritten books ever 
offered on the subject is ''The Sunday Night Service," by 
Rev. W. F. Sheridan, of Baltimore, Md. He approves the 
pastor, located near the circus tent, w^ho w^ent to the grounds 
Sunday afternoon to catch the crowds, w^atching the prepa- 
rations, w^ith a bright religious service. He gives an interest- 
ing symposium of facts and subjects for Sunday night service. 
He has had remarkable success, and has almost without ex- 
ception given the invitation every Sunday night with quite 
general results. ' 
Pew cards Rev. M. P. Boynton puts a card in the pews, with a place 
for a cross before a request for the pastor to call and discuss 
either the Christian life or deeper consecration. Rev. Court- 
landt Myers adds to this the one who is a Christian but not 
a Church member. 

Sunday Evening Music 

Magnet Thc music for the Sunday evening service is an important 
subject. It will pay the empty pew preacher to take a little 
time out of the study even to build up and improve this part 
of the service. It provides the greatest magnet for the 

138 



oir in 
rear 



Successful Sunday Evening Services 

crowd, and will insure a "go" to the meeting. No one suc- 
ceeds without making the music a feature. 

Although Mr. Wesley would permit no sort of musical Orchest 
instrument in his services, Metropolitan Methodist Episcopal 
Church, New York City, has a pipe-organ and a large 
orchestra for all services. Calvary Methodist Episcopal 
Church has a vested choir of eighty. The English Meth- 
odists or Wesleyans utilize complete brass bands in Sunday 
parades and services. Dr. Briggs, formerly pastor of Central 
Methodist Episcopal Church, San Francisco, crowded his 
downtown Church all summer by using a volunteer or- 
chestra. Parson Uzzell's great tabernacle In Denver makes 
a strong feature of a large orchestra. The orchestra is 
widely used by all denominations In all places. Rev. Edward Ch. 
Judson, pastor of Memorial Baptist Church, New York 
City, In ''The Institutional Church," argues that a choir 
seated In the back of the house saves the audience from a 
curious watching of the singers, and them from thoughted 
display, and that then congregational singing Is more general. 

A quartet sings beautifully, but has too little volume Congrega- 
to lead a congregation. The little "ditties" In the gospel "°"^ ^'"^'°^ 
song-books are widely criticised and with some justice, and 
yet many of these easier pieces stay in the mind, catch enthu- 
siastic support, and attract when staid hymns would fall flat. 
When the audience sings unanimously hearts are thrilled, 
unity Is secured, and personal Interest Is Insured. Even Arouse 
though the music leader can not grip the audience, the pastor 
may help by asking the ladles, the men, or different sections 
to repeat the chorus until all start singing. Stay at an easily 
sung piece until every one Is Interested. Rev. B. F. Dim- Audience 
mick, pastor of Wesley Church, Columbus, Ohio, prints on ^^^'^ 
his Church bulletins the following: "Send up to the pastor 
In writing your favorite hymn by an usher. It will be sung 
at the praise service." This is a fine plan. It gives an In- 

139 



Workable Plans for Wide- Awake Churches 

terest In this part of the service, and enables one to find the 
popular songs. It Is well, when five or six are suggested, 
to have the audience vote on the one most desired. When 
a new piece is tried, ask every one who likes It to hold up 
his hand; then those who do not to do the same. Pass slips 
of paper and request the people to write their favorite piece 
upon these slips. Select the ones suggested by the most 
people. Songs that the people like and will sing must be 
used. 

Special Features 

Concerts SpccIal fcaturcs may be advertised. Grace Church, 
among other things, had the following: A brass band of 
forty-five pieces gave one concert. The State Industrial 
School band was brought to the city for two services. A 
Young Men's Mandolin and Guitar Club, as well as a 
mixed club, rendered special music. Other special features 
were: A boys' choir of twenty-five members, a young peo- 
ple's orchestra, a large phonograph, the Mendelssohn Male 
Quartet (a professional concert organization). Every Sun- 
day evening some special feature of this sort is advertised. 
The audience looks forward to it. 

Applause Thc pcoplc arc allowed to clap their hands and encore 
a musical selection. This may shock some at first. Visiting 
F. B. Meyer's London Church, the writer was surprised to 
see the six or eight hundred men on a Sunday afternoon ap- 
plaud a point in the sermon and call back a soloist. At tea 
Mr. Meyer, being asked about it, said: "This is the way 
they express their emotion. It is a Methodist Amen." This 
suggestion started thoughts that banished objections. The 
audience has grown at Grace Church from a handful to a 
church-full by these, together with other methods, all of 
course under the blessmgal and saturated by the Spirit of God. 
Dr. Banks's Dr. Banks, while pastor of First Methodist Episcopal 
Church, Cleveland, Ohio, gave a ten-minute editorial pre- 

140 



Successful Sunday Evening Services 

lude to every evening sermon. He dealt with local city 
government and all sorts of public affairs, relating them to 
righteousness. At another time he assigned ten minutes to 
questions handed in one week previous, and to which he gave 
very careful thought. If the interrogations did not come in 
vital and fast enough, he prepared some himself. While 
pastor of Grace Church, New York City, he delivered a ten- 
minute prelude on some great event of the preceding week, 
always endeavoring to draw a moral lesson from it. 

While a pastor in Kansas City and again in Denver the Prominei»t 
author secured eight of the prominent citizens from different 
denominations to speak ten minutes preceding the sermon in 
answer to the question. Why am I a Christian? In Denver 
the speakers included the General of the State militia, the 
most successful surgeon in the city, a prominent business 
man, and the United States District Attorney. In Kansas 
City, Alderman (now Mayor) Beardsley, the head of the 
largest music concern in the West, one of the editors of The 
Star, and a leading w^holesale merchant spoke. The young 
men were thus given living illustrations of the fact that men 
could succeed as Christians. Care was taken in selecting 
speakers of unimpeachable character. 

The Second Congregational Church, Oak Park, Chicago, Early 
has its evening service at five P. M., followed by the Chris- ^^^^"^ 
tian Endeavor meeting at 6.15. Many pastors do not permit 
the young people's meeting to be dismissed, but immediately 
take charge and run a forty-five minute service. "Rev. Young 
Charles M. Sheldon gives his time and strength in helping mTe'tms' 
the Christian Endeavor Society to plan its evening devotional 
meeting, and then substitutes this for the Sunday night 
service. 

There has been a good deal of complaint about the Uyahy 
young people forsaking the evening service at the close of 
their devotional meeting. Frequently it is only fair to say 

141 



Workable Plans for Wide-Awake Churches 



that the preacher and the evening program are to blame, 
though not always. Rev. P. Ross Parish, of Jacksonville, 
Fla., gives some solid facts in the Epworth Herald. They 
are applicable to all young people's organizations: 

No Sunday evening preaching service can be a success without 
the loyal support of the young people who attend the Epworth 
League. No one can be a failure where the young people stand by 
with enthusiasni and constancy. "Note some of the reasons why 
Epworthlans should generously support the evening service: 

It can be made a popular, evangelistic, and widely profitable 
service. It must become either a marked success or a dragging 
failure. 

Many of the older people and children who attend the morn- 
ing service do not come in the evening. The evening service must be 
supported largely by young people, youngerly people, and casual 
attendants. 

The relation of the Epworth League meeting in point of time 
to the preaching service creates both the privilege and duty of sup- 
porting it. 

For Epworthians to withhold help in sustaining it, is in a sense 
to tear it down and to advertise it a failure. Can you imagine the 
effect on the other young people, the general public, and the pastor 
when any considerable number of Epworthians turn away from the 
Church at the close of "their" meeting? We can not expect the 
general public to attend and appreciate the services of the Church 
unless we stand loyally by and set the example. 

What can you do? Many things. 

Pray especially for this service and the pastor. 

Talk it up everywhere. 

Help to create enthusiastic loyalty in the Chapter. 

Begin the devotional meeting on time so as to close five or ten 
minutes before the hour for evening service. Then you can be in 
your places sharp on time. 

Never go aivay after the League meeting except in cases of ex- 
treme necessity. 

Let the members attend in a body and sit directly in front of 
the pulpit. Your example will become contagious. You can help 
the pastor mightily by sympathy, prayer, song, and manifest interest. 

Appoint a "welcoming committee" of young men to greet the 
people as they come in and go out. 

142 



Successful Sunday Evening Services 



Various volunteer committees of one or two persons each might 
select pews and undertake to keep them full on Sunday night. 

In every possible way prove your loyalty to the Church and to 
the pastor. 

There is especial need for this whole-hearted devotion during 
the summer. 

The Chapter can stand ready to conduct the service now and 
then at the request of the pastor, or in case of his sickness or absence. 

First-class material can be secured for a series of sermons Letters o£ 
and an unusual interest be aroused by sending a letter to a '"''""^*' 
number of the prominent men of the city concerning personal 
religion. It will start thought that often leads to conver- 
sion. It will give ministers an introduction to circles and 
individuals otherwise closed to them. People are always re- 
spectful in conversing about religion with the kindly and 
tactful person. The following letter was sent to repre- 
sentative citizens soon after beginning a pastorate: 

Dear Sir, — We are very anxious to make Grace Church a real 
servant of the people of Denver. You are a representative citizen 
who is able to measure and know the city's needs. May I take the 
liberty of occupying your valuable time for the purpose of gaining 
information and getting your advice? First, for the sake of help- 
ing others, without thought of impertinence, may I ask a personal 
question, or two? Are you a professing Christian? Of what 
Church are you a member? Do you count it unnecessary to be a 
professing Christian? Were your parents Christians? Is the Chris- 
tian religion a benefit to the world? If so, why? Why does the 
Christian Church fail to reach more people? What is the best work 
it does? Suggest a topic or two preachers should handle in the 
pulpit. In what way do Christians fail? 

I am having a series of addresses in our Church, preceding the 
evening sermon, by Denver business men, and will be glad to see 
you present. 

A number of other men have been sent a letter similar to this 
one. I shall compile and use the replies beginning January 17th. 

I am yours respectfully, 

P. S. Your name will not be quoted, if you so request. 

143 



Workable Plans for Wide-Awake Churches 

Hioma State Wcstem and even some Southern cities are filling with 
new citizens from every State in the Union. The new- 
comers naturally get homesick. Just to see a face from the 
old State will do them good. Let the Church arrange a 
reunion service of some sort. Details can be worked out 
locally. A few suggestions may help. The pastor may 
preach on "The Old Home." Have special music. Sing 
a few State songs like "Maryland, My Maryland;" or, 
better still, have religious words composed to fit the music. 
Many State Epworth Leagues and Christian Endeavor or- 
ganizations have done this. If the church and audience is 
large, have a small placard marking seats for the more im- 
portant States, and have the ushers seat folk accordingly. 
If the church is small, announce a pew number for each 
State, where all can gather at the close. The service should 
close early, so that the people will have an opportunity to 

Strangers' meet cach Other. A Fort Collins (Colorado) Presbyterian 
register Qj^^j.^,}^ kccps 3. register for all strangers to write their names 
and addresses. The local residents also register their "old 
home" address. The names are arranged by States, so that 
inquirers can easily locate people from a given Common- 
wealth. Visitors often discover an acquaintance or old 
friend. Put a bright, faithful man in charge, and he will 

Testimony keep things straight. Frequently a Sunday evening testi- 

pre erence ^^^y mccting, in which each one tells in what State he was 
converted, giving town and Church, is attractive. He may 
add the name of the pastor under whose preaching he was 
converted, and the name of the denomination first joined. 
Alert attention is insured and real heart stirrings occur. 
Old friends are reunited or new ones made by ties thus dis- 
covered. 



144 



Successful Sunday Evening Services 

Subjects and their Form 

It is, of course, laudable and necessary to preach the Fresh 
gospel Sunday night. The people will welcome it as no ^"^"^ 
other message, and a consciousness of having sown fruit- 
bearing seed wuU soothe and rest the pastor. But it must be 
put in a fresh, lively, and hearty way. The word-dress 
must be modern, and the whole be related to the throbbing, 
hurrying life that w^alks the streets and works in shops and 
offices, factories, and stores. Rev. D. G. Downey says: 
"Illustrations of Bible truths should be gleaned from the 
science, the literature, and the life of to-day. Connect the 
present hour with eternal principles controlling all the 
hours." Dr. Banks says: "I put a good deal of time on Topics 
the selection of a topic. I try to invent a method of stating 
the theme in such a way as not to repel the people, but rather 
to attract them to come to hear the sermon. I have known 
people to come twenty or thirty miles because the theme 
had been stated in such a way as to catch their attention."* 

The subjects are not alone imporant, but their wording a popular 
and their relation to current events and discussions is vital. """'"* 
The subjects at Grace Church are popularized. There is a 
vast difference between sensational and popular subjects. 
*'How to be Happy, though Married," ''The First Kiss," 
"Work for a Widower," are purely sensational, even though 
founded respectively on the injunction, "Husbands, Love 
Your Wives," "Judas Greeting His Master," and the ardu- 
ous work of Paul. A doctrinal subject may be popular; e. g.. Doctrinal 
after a revival meeting. "Is the Bible True?" "Are Chris- 
tians Alone Saved?" "Why Should I Pray?" "How Should 
I Spend Sunday?" were treated. Holidays offer good sub- Holidays 
jects. "In the beginning God" was used when New- Year's 
Day came on a Sunday, with the subject, "A First Word 
for the First Day." Here are others used: "Christmas 

♦ "Great Sinners of the Bible," p. 12. 



Workable Plans for WIde-Awake Churches 



Presents," "How Shall I Celebrate Fourth of July?" "The 
Origin of Thanksgiving-day," "Hallowe'en Superstitions." 
On Lincoln's birthday: "Was Lincoln a Christian?" "The 
Task for Lincoln's Successors." On Labor Days the sub- 
jects were "Christian Socialism," "The Labor-day Celebra- 

Seasons tion" (Mark vi, 3). Seasons also are utilized. "The 
Falling Leaves of Fall" (Isa. xxxiv, 4) may give truth to 
men as they afterwards see the leaves falling at their feet. 
"A Drink of Water" (John iv, 7) strikes home on many 

Common thirsty days. "A Cool Place" (Gen. v, 8) recalls many 

conversation • /~\ ,• /■ , . , 

summer experiences. (Questions 01 common discussion are 
related to religion by a sermon. "Lodges and the Church" 
opened a fruitful field. "The Old Home" repictured happy 
days, and these often re-create the appetite for religion. Here 
are others: "Sunday Theaters and Loafing" (Ex. xxxii, 6) ; 
"Model for Denver Young Men" (John ix, 25); "Gamb- 
ling, Its Source and Effect" (Matt, xxvii, 35) ; "Entertain- 
ing Denver's Strangers" (at the opening of a convention) 
(Heb. xiii, 2) ; "The Power of Advertising" (Num. xxiv, 4). 
Special Different groups of people have been asked in for a 
groups gp^^-^l service. The gas company men listened to the gospel 
with the subject, "Turn On the Lights." Salesmen were in- 
vited by cards distributed at the stores after they closed in the 
evening, with the subject, "Can a Clerk be a Christian?" 
The employees of a large high-class business house listened 
to "Store Standards" built around their own firm's motto. 

Newspapers Myron Rccd, a former Congregational minister of Denver, 
now deceased, whose name is yet dear to many, always 
preached to the crowds. In a personal letter several years 
ago, in answer to a query as to sources for sermon subjects, 
he said, "Read the newspapers." It has proven to be good 

occurrences advicc. Many public occurrences arouse ethical and relig- 
ious thoughts and questions. God's truth, through a ser- 
mon, will often clear them. A few topics treated by the 

146 



Successful Sunday Evening Services 

author will Illustrate: ''Lessons from the Recent Floods" 
(after a devastating river overflow^ in Kansas) (Psa. ix, 
i6) ; "The Citizen's Duty Toward the New^ Charter" (to 
consider it and follow^ right) ; "Life's End for Leading 
Men" (when a number of prominent men had just died) 
(Eccles. H, 13); "The Baltimore Fire" (Psa. xxxix, 4) ; 
"Providence and the New York Boat Fire" (Isa. xllil, 2) ; 
"Suggestions from Russian-Japanese War" (i Cor. ix, 26). 
It will pay freshly to read Phelps's "Theory of Preaching" Compact 
on the formation of sermon subjects. Long, stereotyped, 
dry forms do not attract or get rooted In the memory. Every 
one is worthy of careful phrasing. Dr. Gladden, in "The Social 
Christian Pastor," suggests for Sunday night the treatment 
of great social questions In which men are interested, and 
to which they wnll be attracted. He names the labor ques- 
tion, poverty and pauperism, treatment of criminal classes, 
public health, education, municipal government, the ethical 
bearings of political measures and methods. He concludes: 
"The pulpit Is secularized not by the kind of topics, but by 
the method of their treatment." Many men will, like NIco- 
demus, come at night when they will not be seen going, as 
in the daytime." 

Here are a few subjects taken from Rev. W. F. Sheri- Sermoi 
dan's chapter on "Sorrfe Sucessful Sermons Series:"* 

By Willis P. O'Dell, 
THOSE HOLY MOUNTAINS. 

1. Quarantana— rThe Mount of Temptation. 

2. Hattin — The Mount of Beatitudes. 

3. Hermon — The Mount of Transfiguration. 

4. Calvary — The Mount of Crucifixion. 

5. Olivet — The Mount of Ascension. 



The Sunday Night Service," p 72 ff. 



Workable Plans for Wide-Awake Churches 



GOD'S HEROES. 

1. Savonarola, the Florentine Patriot. 

2. Martin Luther, the Hero of the German Reformation. 

3. General Gordon, the Hero of Khartoum. 

4. John Knox, the Hero of Scotland. 

5. John Bunyan, the Dreamer of Bedford Jail. 

6. John Wesley, the Hero of Methodism. 

By Camden M. Cobern, 

SHORT SERMONS ON GREAT SUBJECTS. 

1. God. 

2. The Trinity. 

3. The Fall. 

4. The Atonement. 

By Luther Freeman, 

(Preached at Waltham, Mass., the "Watch Town.") 
THE WATCH. 

1. The Main Spring. 

2. The Balance Wheel. 

3. The Jewels. 

4. The Adjustment. 

5. The Testing Room. 

By Edward S. Ninde, 

SHORT TALKS TO MEN OF BUSINESS. 

1. Luke the Physician. 

2. Zebedee, the Fisherman. 

3. Elisha, the Farmer. 

4. Zenas, the Lawyer. 

5. Cornelius, the Soldier. 

6. Jubal, the Musician. 

7. Abel, the Shepherd. 

8. Nimrod, the Hunter. 

9. Ahithophel, the Politician. 

10. Levi, the Customs Officer. 

148 



Successful Sunday Evening Services 
By James M. Thoburn, Jr. 

EPIDEMIC DELUSIONS. 

1. Spiritualism. "Bring Me Up Samuel." 

2. Theosophy. "As Jannes and Jambres Withstood Moses, so 
do these Resist the Truth." 

3. Christian Science. "Refuse Profane Old Wive's Fables." 

By Charles Bayard Mitchell. 
HIGHWAYS TO HELL. 

1. The Amusement Highway. 

2. The Money Highway. 

3. The Self-indulgent Highway. 

4. The Drink Highway. 

5. The Skeptic Highway. 

By Fayette L. Thompson. 

THE CRISIS OF YOUTH. 
To Young Men: 

1. The Young Man and Personal Purity. 

2. The Young Man and Crime. 

3. The Young Man and the Legalized Liquor-traffic. 

4. The Young Man and Another Young Man. 
To Young Women: 

1. The Young Woman and Her Tongue. 

2. The Young Woman and Her Mother. 

3. The Young Woman and Pleasure. 

4. The Young Woman and Her Future Husband. 

By Wilbur F. Sheridan. 
SIX MODERN DEVILS. 

1. The Bad Literature Devil. 

2. The Gossip Devil. 

3. The Pleasure Devil. 

4. The Gambling Devil. 

5. The Liquor Devil. 

6. The Greed-for-Gold DeviL 

Dr. Banks, who has been eminently successful in getting 
great audiences in downtown Churches, says in ''The Great 

149 



Workable Plans for Wide-Awake Churches 



Sinners Slnncrs of the Bible" : *'My theory [about the Sunday night 
service] is very simple. Men and women will not go to 
Church very long or very frequently, unless they are per- 
sonally preached to. . . . On Sunday night I preach 
to sinners as directly and simply and earnestly as I know 
how, and hundreds of them come to hear me preach every 
Sunday night. I do not preach an easy gospel. I do not call 
the sermon a lecture or an address. ... I find there 
is wonderful interest in the old Bible stories; that no story 
of modern fiction has such gripping power on an audience as 
the old stories of the Bible translated into modern language 
and told in the tongue of the day." (Pages 8, 9.) The ser- 
mon is characterized by "illustration and brevity." 
Invitation "At thc close of 2L scrmon especially addressed to uncon- 
verted people I always give some opportunity for confession 
of Christ and the expression of a determination to lead a 
Christian life. I do not always do it in the same w^ay. 
Sometimes I ask the sinner convicted of sin to come forward 
and kneel at the altar; at other times I invite him into an 
inquiry room. Sometimes I ask for the uplifted hand, or the 
rising in the congregation." (Pages 10, 11.) 
Bible Some of Dr. Banks's sermon topics, used in First Meth- 
'°*"*'^odist Episcopal Church, Cleveland, and given in "Great 
Sinners of the Bible," follow: 

Eve's Dialogue with the Devil. 

The First Coward in the World. 

The Three Most Notorious Bad Bargains in History. 

The Melancholy Fate of Mr. Facing-both-Ways. 

The Man with a Low Aim. 

The Difference between Self-conceit and Self-respect. 

The Villain in the First Christmas Drama. 

Audience He concludes I "I believe full Sunday night congregations 

^ are within the reach of every earnest preacher of ordinary 

intelligence and common sense in all our large towns and 

150 



Successful Sunday Evening Services 

^^^^"^^"^^^ 

cities. Set your pulpit on fire, brother, with an earnest gi«v- 
ing of yourself to save men, and multitudes of sinners will 
flock to see the flame, their hard hearts will be melted, and 
they will be saved." (Page 14.) 

Here are a series given in First Methodist Episcopal vital 
Church, Lynn, Mass.: ''""" 

SOME GREAT QUESTIONS FOR MEN OF TO-DAY. 

"The Bible— What is It?" 

"The Church— What Claim has It?" 

"Jesus Christ— Who is He ?" 

"What is a Christian?" 

"Is God in the World Now?" 

"Does God Forgive Sins?" 

"Does God Answer Prayer?" 

"Does God Send Trouble ?" 

"Does God Punish Sin After Death?" 

"What if a Man Can't Believe?" 

"Heaven— How shall We Think of It?" 



151 



CHAPTER VII. 

Midweek Prayer Service: Interest and 
Profit. 

Present Day Difficulties 

Thermometer It WES oncc siTioothly and freely declared, "The prayer- 
meeting Is the spiritual thermometer of the Church." This 
statement is no longer universally true, though it may be 
correct In some quarters. A family neighborhood can more 
easily be assured of a good attendance than a downtown 
Church. Men who leave early in the morning partake of a 
hurriedly eaten noon lunch, and go home hanging to a strap 
In a crowded street car, thoroughly exhausted from the heart, 
head, nerve, and muscle strain of the day, can not easily be 
led to snatch a hurried meal and take the car back down 
town to prayer-meeting. They are also, under some of the 
above circumstances, less likely to take supper downtown 
so that they can attend the mid-week service. We live, in 
an exhausting, hurry-up age, with many obstacles that our 
fathers did not know. Though they had as real and brain- 
testing problems, which they successfully met, theirs were 
Culture different from ours. Men need the mid-week culture as 
much now as ever. If the fathers spent themselves by long 
* and weary rides to reach Immense circuits, we certainly ought 
to do our best, without complaint, to bring the gospel freshly 
and steadily to those isolated from it by business rush and 
other outside conditions. 

152 



Midweek Prayer Service: Interest and Profit 

The pastor first decides concerning the relative impor- Relative 
tance of the weekly church-family gathering. The prayer- '"""" °°" 
ful, observant, informed minister will place It near the 
front. It will then naturally command a large share of . 
his time and attention, and he will not be satisfied until it 
has been brought to the best possible state. This, however, 
is often far from satisfying, and many a pastor, with a 
deep and happy spiritual life, and a Church that sees regular 
conversions, must be content with a comparatively small 
attendance at prayer meeting. He will, however, be alert 
for Improvements, and will regularly employ every new 
plan that promises to help either the attendance or the spirit 
of the service. 

Successful Plans Employed 

The mid-week gathering may be a greatly varied and 
very fruitful meeting, and hence a wide divergence of plans 
are employed. The question put to many pastors was: 
"What plans do you employ to make a mid-week service 
a success?" The replies follow. 

Rev. J. D. Countermine: ''Have as much variety as 
possible. Put emphasis on prayer and Bible readings. Give 
the people something to do." Rev. C. Myers: "Make 
them promise when they join the church that they will 
come to prayer-meeting weekly." Rev. M. P. Boynton: 
"Plenty of singing. Informal discussion of helpful topics. 
By an unbroken continuity of prayer-mtct'mgs.^' Rev. C. B. 
McAfee: "Put some hard work on It myself, so that the 
people get something in my fifteen minutes, and are ready 
to take part themselves." Rev. A. C. Dixon: "By magni- 
fying the word of God and testimony. I rarely talk more 
than five minutes, and sometimes not more than a minute 
at a time.' Rev. C. B. Mitchell: "Secure practical and 
taking topics. Hold only one hour. Follow with E. L. 

153 



Workable Plans for Wide- Awake Churches 

Bible Study Class." Rev. W. A. Bartlett: "Have a 
vigorous song service for fifteen minutes, and by frequently 
devoting the hour to the discussion of practical plans for 
Church work, such as the Sunday-school, the evening serv- 
ice; these I put in charge of those especially interested." 
Rev. John Faville: "We don't make it a success as to 
numbers. We try not to talk it to death, and have only 
an hour's service and a well-attended teacher's meeting at 
the close." Rev. F. T. Rouse: 'Alas, have not succeeded 
in making it a success." Rev. W. P. Odell: "Advertise 
my subjects. Prepare as carefully as for a sermon. Have 
an attractive soloist." Rev. W. B. Hinson: "Never have 
two prayer-meetings alike. Make it an around-the-fire 
meeting." Rev. N. Luccock: " 'Hie opus est.' If one 
has any freshness or sparkle at all he needs it at the mid- 
week service. I look well to music, have a good pianist 
who can catch a hymn on the fly, no matter where it starts; 
have five or six young men on the platform with me to carry 
music in full tide. Start with freshest thought I can 
command on some living experimental truth. Stand like a 
captain in battle, never sit down in prayer-meeting, and 
attack from various sides until I get the meeting open." 
Rev. P. H. Swift: "Special choir of young people on plat- 
form part of the time. Personal letters to certain people 
to give them something to do. Do not talk too much 
myself." Rev. Dr. Strong: "Scriptural expositions, 
promptness, confining the service to one hour." Rev. F. E. 
R. Miller: "Vary it with missionary, temperance, Bible 
study, experience programs." Brunswick, Maine, Pastor: 
*'We take up any theme, religious, literary, artistic, musical, 
or put purely social features in that evening." Rev. H. H. 
Monninger: "A missionary meeting once a month, a cove- 
nant meeting once a month, but no two meetings in the 
year alike." Rev. Geo. C. Peck: "Try to have a definite 

154 



Midweek Prayer Service : Interest and Profit 



and varying plan for each week.' Make much use of the 
people. A heart service." Rev. H. H. Preedy: "Variety, 
religious interpretation of literature, art, music, organization 
of a religious study club, reading of books, studies based on 
books, occasional social half hours at close of song service," 
etc. Rev. Paul B. Jenkins: "Everything I can read of, 
hear of, dream of, Imagine or Invent. I believe the best 
way Is to have each service carefully planned In every 
detail, but not so that the machinery Is audible." Rev. C. 
L. Kloss: "Variety-topics, lay-speakers, who are specialists 
in missionary, or philanthropic work, keeping It prominently 
before the people." Rev. S. R. Scovllle: "Have a different 
leader every Wednesday night, who gets out his or her 
Invitations giving each a subject to speak on, also pledging 
the elders and deacons to attend prayer-meetings." Rev. 
F. N. Calvin: "We have dinner (15 cents a plate) served 
from six to seven thirty. Usually baptismal service, 7 :45 ; 
Devotional service from 8 :oo to 8 :45 ; Men's Bible study 
8:45 to 9:30, at which time I teach Sunday-school lesson 
for the following Sunday. We combine the social, physical 
satisfaction, the devotional and the intellectual (teaching)." 
Rev. Dr. Strong: "Now and then a supper in the church 
dining-room at 6 :30 to discuss plans, and afterw^ard an 
adjournment to the prayer-meeting; special topics of prayer, 
study of Paul's Letters, etc." 

In 1876 at the New York Ministerial Convention, Mr. Faiis 
Moody said: "Where one fails In the pulpit, I believe 
fifty fall in the prayer-meeting."* 

Mr. Beecher gave two lectures on the prayer-meeting Beecher's 
in his Yale lectures on preaching. They are profitable 
reading. He says: The prayer-meeting promotes fellow- 
ship, discourages censorious judgment, cherishes mutual 
helpfulness, discovers mutual needs, develops power in the 

*"The Prayer Meeting and Its Improvement," p. 129. . 



Workable Plans for Wide-Awake Churches 

congregation, discloses gifts and graces, and makes truth 
personal. Prayers and testimonies should be cut short, 
if necessary. The opening address should not be too good 
so as to exhaust the subject. Speeches must not be stale or 
devoid of thought. A social atmosphere must prevail. Have 
"Social Enthusiasm." Watch for a clue and let each 
meeting shape Itself. Begin and end promptly. Use rooms 
that can be filled. Command variety. Attend to the sing- 
ing. Choose subjects of common life or conversation. I 
do n't like announced subjects. I do not always read Scrip- 
ture at the opening, but sometimes at the close of the 
remarks. Sometimes I do not speak until the close of the 
meeting, when I sum up. These facts have been culled 
from fifty-nine pages. 
Moody's Dr. Stall, writing in 1887, gives the following seven- 
teen rules as emanating from Mr. Moody: "i. Get the 
people near together. 2. Let the meeting places be well 
ventilated. 3. Have some good singing. 4. When we 
have special meetings let us have special prayer. 5. Let 
requests be received for special cases. 6. Let the minister 
or leader presiding do little more than give the key-note 
to the service. 7. It is well to give out the next subject 
at the previous meeting. 8. Do not scold the people who 
have come, because the rest have not come. 9. If we 
are discouraged, do not let any one see it. 10. Do not 
have more than two prayers consecutively. 11. Do not 
have a formal address. 12. Have the meeting short. 13. 
Avoid discussion. 14. If you can not get members to take 
part, go and speak to them about It alone. 15. Be punc- 
tual. 16. Be sure and throw the meeting open half the 
time. 17. Lastly, seek to make sure that in going to the 
meeting you are going to it In the Spirit." 
Social Another time Mr. Moody said: "The minister may 
^^"°^ enter the room with his coat buttoned up and looking 

156 



Midweek Prayer Service : Interest and Profit 

neither to the right nor to the left. Of course, a meeting 
carried on in that way is stiff and formal."* 

The minister may enter the room in a friendly and 
social way, shaking hands with everybody and saying a 
pleasant word to all, and the meeting will start easily 
and naturally. A grouchy, weary, hurried leader will spoil 
the whole service with the opening. 

Dr. H. M. Scudder, in ''Parish Problems," gives his Scudder's 
plans, which he formed after a series of visits to other mid- 
week services when his own had failed. Here are the 
rules: I. Prepare. 2. Have a foreplanned scheme of sub- 
jects. 3. Hold one hour and be prompt. 4. Give the 
exposition early. 5. Master the song book. 6. Prepare 
for the singing. 7. Have prayers short. Use the bell, 
if necessary. 8. Urge general participation. 9. Form 
groups of six with a leader, to be responsible, to help at 
different times. 10. Remain at the close for sociability. 
II. Fill all with prayerful spirit. These plans, up to the 
time they were written, had been used twelve years, and had 
proven eminently successful. 

Washington Gladden says that the opening prayer. Gladden 
Scripture, song and remarks ought not to consume more than 
ten minutes. 

The question whether an old or a new name should Name 
be given. Is an open one. The one thing in favor of ''prayer- 
meeting" is that of long usage and . association which adds 
some value to It, as does the wording of the Authorized 
Version of the Bible. It is urged against It that the old 
name slips through the mind too easily; that It suggests 
a dry and formal service, and that It circumscribes the 
program too much. It Is variously christened: "Mid- 
week Meeting," "Prayer Hour," "Church Conference," 
"The Oasis Hour," "Church Family Meeting," "Prayer 



♦ "Methods of Church Work," p. loo. 



Workable Plans for Wide-Awake Churches 

and Conference Meeting," "Social Prayer Meeting," 
"Prayer and Social Meeting," "Prayer Meeting and Bible 
Study." 

Non-aitend- It will be wisc to carry on a vigorous campaign in the 
interest of the mid-week service, for a few weeks. It will 
add permanent interest and supporters. Slips of paper 
passed in the Sunday morning audience will draw out 
suggestions. Ask for written reasons for non-attendance 
at prayer-meeting. Announce a three-minute sermon prelude 
to treat the different excuses or causes. A good sermon 
may often be built from them. Also gather subjects and 
questions for the mid-week service in this way. 

Attendance The Cctttral Congrcgational Church, of Philadelphia, 
runs a printed thermometer on the inside of their Church 
bulletin, the folding line cutting through the middle of It. 
On this is registered every week the attendance at the mid- 
week service. It is marked up to 200, that number express- 
ing the goal. The week before me registers 86, a marked 
advance over the former one. It is well to have a fixed 
number to strive after. With a definite point in view, 
people are more likely to exert themselves. 
Home Kerr Boyce Tupper, a prominent Philadelphia pastor. 
Scripture pj-jj^^g^j ^]^q following llst of ScHpture passages In his Church 
bulletin with the request that all his people read them with 
him during the week. 

Monday, Psalm Ixviii, 9-17. Thursday, Psalm Ixix, 1-13. 

Tuesday, Psalm Ixviii, 18-26. Friday, Psalm Ixix, 14-28. 

Wednesday, Psalm Ixviii, 27-35. Saturday, Psalm Ixix, 29-36. 

Sunday, Psalm Ixx. 

This Scripture may be made to bear upon the subject 
for the mid-week service and so feed It. People are bound 
to get thoughts in this way. 

Make eight people prayer-meeting assistants. Give 

158 



Midweek Prayer Service : Interest and Profit 

each of them a list of five names of those who do not attend Assistants 
the mid-week service. Urge them to exert themselves to 
get these five, or as many of them as possible, to come. 
If these five are followed up persistently and tactfully, 
some or all will become regular attendants. 

Possible Programs 

There are lOO prayers in the Bible, says Rev. L. O. Brevity 
Thompson, and only two or three are five minutes long. 
Long speeches and petitions freeze religious conferences to 
death. Brevity is hard to secure. People take offense 
when the pastor insists upon, or even refers to brevity. 
Study these prayers and notice especially their shortness. 
Recall even the briefness of Matthew's collected Sermon 
on the Mount. Dr. A. T. Plerson says that the Greek has 
only three references to a formal discourse In describing 
New Testament sermons, and during one of these a man 
fell out of the window and broke his neck. 

The prayers of the meeting sho:ild never be neglected Prayers 
or cheapened. Some "set" prayers i.ever leave the fixed 
rut or stop until they have been around the world. Splen- 
did printed pleadings from ancient and modern saints are 
sweetening and spiritualizing when read sympathetically 
or recited reverently by all. The mimeograph will pro- 
vide enough copies. Spontaneous prayers are usually the 
best. The spirit has not ceased to move, yet some "move" 
so easily that others get no chance. Sometimes It is well Preparation 
to call upon people. Rev. G. H. Beard says: "Give those 
to be called on for prayer some time for preparation, and 
an opportunity to refuse, If they wish. Those who do 
not feel able to lead In prayer, otherwise will often read, 
with deep spiritual effect, a psalm-prayer or a hymn-prayer 
or a prayer from the Episcopal Prayer-book." The same 
folk ought not to lead regularly. The long-breathed must 

159 



Workable Plans for Wide-Awake Churches 

be checked. The need of general prayer while some one 
is leading, should be emphasized. Help all to realize the 
nearness and attentiveness of Christ. 

Laymen Rcv. S. W. Naylor, while pastor at Kenosha, Wis., 
appointed a layman to lead the mid-week service from 
7 130 to 8 '.30. He then took charge and conducted a Bible- 
class for thirty minutes. 

Brooklyn Rev. LewIs O. Thompson, writing In 1878, said that 
The Brooklyn Tabernacle held the largest prayer-meeting 
in the world, ^bout 2,000 attending. It ran from 7 130 
to 9:15: Here Is the program: There was no Church 
choir, so the first thirty minutes was used In practicing 
songs for congregational singing. From 8:00 to 8:30 Dr. 
Talmage delivered a ''review of the secular events of the 
week from a religious stand-point. Those who desired then 
retired, while the rest spent forty-five minutes In testlmonj; 
and prayer."* 

Parents People Started to prayer-meeting by some unusual method 
may be led to see that they can go and soon form a habit. 
The following announcement of the "Church Family 
Meeting" appeared In the weekly bulletin of the First Bap- 
tist Church, Worcester, Mass. : 

"Help for Fathers and Mothers" at the Wednesday evening 
meeting at 7.45. A brief review of a most helpful book, "Fireside 
Child Study," will be given by Mrs. C. A. Boyd, and a talk by 
Dean Rufus G. Bentley, Professor of Pedagogy at Clark Univer- 
sity, on "Education and the Vocation of Parents." This will be 
a rare opportunity for parents and teachers to ask questions of a 
specialist in the art of teaching. 

Benevolences An Interesting, historical prelude on the different benevo- 
lent causes can be profitably given, using ten minutes at 
the opening of the service. Many fascinating Incidents can 
be gathered. Interest in the "cause" will be aroused and 



* "The Prayer Meeting and Its Improvement," p. 202. 

160 



Midweek Prayer Service : Interest and Profit 

information scattered. Foreign missions is not the only 
mission subject needing presentation. All of the *'benevo- 
lence" interests are mission work. 

Ministers have an unusual knowledge of good books Recommend 
from their associations and reading. Utilize a few moments 
at the opening of a service to review a recent book, even 
though it be only good fiction. Once in a while bad books 
or poor ones may be condemned. A number of w^orthy 
publications may be listed and posted in the entry, for the 
guidance of the people. Well-balanced Christians may help 
in making the list. 

Dr. Scott of the First M. E. Church, Atchison, Kansas, "Tempta- 
recently announced the names of a dozen people ranging 
from childhood to old age, who would tell ''What is my 
greatest temptation?" Prominent people were selected. 
The attendance was phenomenal. H. W. Stone, Secretary Prominent 
of the Y. M. C. A. at Portland, Oregon, secures Church ''^°'' ^ 
members who, though not then religiously active, were 
widely known, to speak at his men's meetings. Some people 
were surprised to discover that these men had religious 
convictions. It aroused the different speakers to responsi- 
bility and brought the crowd. Every Church has men 
of renown, who never speak in religious services ; if assigned 
to some congenial subject, they will frequently be started 
to work. 

Subjects for the Meeting 

It is wise to treat vital, doctrinal subjects at the mid-week vital 
prayer-meeting. Frank questions and full discussions are pos- 
sible. The Christian's doubts can be cleared as they were for 
Thomas. Workers may be furnished for victory. Study the 
Apostle's Creed in sections. Collect written questions from 
the timid. The "resurrection of the body" is the basis for 
many doubts and much perplexity. The "Trinity" seems 
n i6i 



Workable Plans for Wide-Awake Churches 

impossible to a few honest minds, but its doctrine can be 
simplified. The divinity of Jesus is questioned on the 
street. How can it be established? The future state of 
the lost is often discussed and dismissed or used to corner 
people because of their ignorance of the subject. The 
claims and needs of the Church are little understood. The 
peculiar tenets and forms of government might be profitably 
considered. What is "sin?" How can it be forgiven? 
Why do we take the sacrament of the Lord's Supper? 
How can we get help out of it? Is tithing Scriptural? If 
not, what relation does paying hold to praying? 
Lord's The Lord's Prayer can be studied for six or seven 
"^^"^ weeks. The Shepherd's Psalm, The Beatitudes, The 
13th Chapter of ist Corinthians, (the ''love" chapter,) and 
other similar sections will feed and build, if followed in the 
same way. 

Questions Thc Qucstion and answer method usually melts formality, 
awakens memories, arouses convictions, freshens thinking. 
The leader is carefully prepared, but uses it to ask questions. 
Get the people to express opinions. No one need arise, it can 
follow the round-table method. The leader clears things 
at the close and relates it all to spirituality. 

Testimony Kindly, tactful helpfulness will put the prayer-meeting 
^' participants at ease and help them say the things that are 
in their hearts, but which common stage-fright has scattered. 
A question in the midst of their testimony will break 
monotony and brings them into the feeling of conversation. 
Written Tcstimony ties some tongues. This class can write 
an experience. Ask them for a thought on the announced 
subject, or a brief paper on an assigned topic. Either the 

Optimism pastor or another may read them when collected. An 
optimistic service may be thus provided. All will, by 
some read or thought-out fact, answer the question: "Why 

162 



Midweek Prayer Service : Interest and Profit 

do I believe the world is growing better," or "Signs of a ' 
World Revival," "God's Fulfilled Promises." 

Ask absent members to send their testimony to the Mail 
prayer-meeting. If ill, or held away by business or duty, 
have them hand it to one who attends, to be read, or mail 
it to the pastor. Dr. Goodell tells of a traveling man 
who always writes and mails his "experience" to his class- 
meeting when away. In addition he sends a telegram to 
be delivered at about the hour of meeting and refers to a 
passage of Scripture. The class leader then makes an 
abstract and sends it to a few "shut Ins." Have a "Prayer- 
Meeting Secretary" write a brief abstract of the testi- 
monies and send them to Invalids, or folk held at home 
from various uncontrollable causes. 

Ask a particular question to be answered In writing. Answers 
e. g. "Should all tithe?" "Why do I believe in Missions?" 
Get folks who can not be present to send In their written 
reply to the question. Return postal cards can be employed. 

Rev. A. A. Benfield collects favorite Bible chapters important 
from the Church audience. He chooses and announces a 
particular chapter, and requests the people to read It and 
come ready to say which verse they would rather retain 
If all the rest were to be destroyed. Every one may bring 
his favorite verse, written, and hand It to an usher at the 
door. Have one person read them all, or distribute the 
verses to different people to be read by them. 

Dr. Boynton sends a postal card to several, printed as Postal 
follows : "Will you kindly read the reference given below ""^ ^ 
and make a few comments upon It at our prayer-meeting 
on Wednesday evening of this week?" 

Study the old hymns ; give their history. Songs get Hymn 
meaning in this way. "Oh, for a thousand tongues, etc.," 
was written to celebrate the first anniversary of Chas. 

163 



Workable Plans for Wide-Awake Churches 

Wesley's conversion, or entire consecration. The author 
of "Come, Thou Fount" finally died a skeptic. Earlier 
memories, pictures of an aged face, with quavering voice, 
or of boyhood singing, of the old home, the old meeting- 
house, the old experience, all come back until hearts are 
melted and edified. 
Food The seasons of the year may be profitably celebrated 
and used to teach effectively. Secure grain, vegetables, and 
fruit for decorations. The same things may be used for 
the Sunday-school or Church "Harvest Home Festival." 
Plan a program out of the ordinary and turn it eventually 
to gratitude to God for food. Every August the world 
is within six weeks of starvation. A universal crop failure 
would bring It. We need to learn dependence and cultivate 
trust In God for the common necesssltles of life. 

Flowers In the midst of summer have a flower meeting. Jesus 
said, "Consider the lilies." We can learn, if we do. What 
beautiful thoughts will come out of such a subject. Give 
every one a flower or small bouquet, as they come, with a 
pin with which to fasten It on. In some communities 
a fruit subject could be handled, giving every one an apple 
or a peach as they start home. 
Vocations ConsIder the problems of different vocations or classes. 
Some people say a printer, or a painter, or a railroad man, 
can not be a Christian. Ask Individuals to answer this 
objection from experience. "Union labor's purposes and 
brotherliness" Is a good subject. The clerk, the business 
man, the lawyer, the doctor are often reputed to have an 
easy time. Let them answer the allegation. 

Patriotic A patriotic service with addresses by one or two old 
soldiers on "The place of religion in war" or "The value 
of righteousness in a contest" will be profitable. Give 
every one a flag as they leave. 

A good social atmosphere and life help the spiritual tone. 
164 ^ 



Midweek Prayer Service : Interest and Profit 

Close once a month at 8.30, and serve light refreshments — Refresh- 
tea and crackers, coffee and doughnuts, cocoa and cake, 
lemonade and. wafers. Spend the half-hour in seeing that 
folks know each other. After that the people will tarry after 
every service to speak to each other, with cheer and hearti- 
ness. 

A bright stenographer could catch the better testimonies Stenographic 
and thoughts of a prayer-meeting, and report them at the 
next. It would be well to let no one know of his presence. 
The pastor or an appointed one may read the report. Valu- 
able truths, otherwise lost, would be freshened and spread 
abroad in this way. 

Have the Epworth League devotional chairman report Young 
at every Sunday evening j^oung people's prayer-meeting how 
many of the members attended the last mid-week service. 

Have questions on the subject distributed that lead up v 
to each other, and number them. Suggest a text and a ques- 
tion; e. g., "Acts i, 8. Can one receive the Holy Ghost and 
not believe in missions?" Distribute collected definitions of, 
say, the subject "friends." Let each be read and remarked 
on. Clip up a good short story and distribute to be read. 
Invite a lawyer or a doctor to open a subject closely related 
to their profession. Take up the work of the Hospital, the 
Young Men's Christian Association, the Charity Organiza- 
tion, and invite a representative. There is an endless variet}'^ 
of possible and profitable plans in reach of the alert and ener- 
getic. 



arious 
suggestions 



16s 



CHAPTER VIII. 
Advertising the Church and its Services. 

A Valuable Assistant 

Sleepy The chlldrcn of this day and generation are wiser than 
""^ ° ^ the children of light. They use means that will bring the 
desired results. Wares are displayed attractively, and varied 
means are employed to get customers. Providence does not 
give success to sleepy methods in the Church any more than 
in business. Paul became all things to all men that he 
"might by all means save some." Shall the Church leaders 
do less to-day? 
Truth Advertising is the most vital assistant in the business 
world. Of course there must be something back of it. A 
prominent "orthodox" doctor declared the other day that all 
advertising doctors bankrupted, unless they had real ability. 
Truth must be told. What institution has more certain, 
Attract fitting, and needed truth to tell than the Church? Rush 
rules the hour. Materialism threatens to deaden heart life, 
as frost solidifies water. Attention must be attracted to the 
fact and need- of spirit growth, if the esthetic and affectional 
Satisfying natures are to remain. Men are not satisfied without God 
worship. Wealth and position leave them restless. Lack of 
enthusiasm landed former Church leaders in ruts and formal- 
ism, and they failed to stir man's deeper nature. Some 
turned to new *'isms," such as Christian Science, backed by 
the enthusiasm of novelty, for spirit satisfaction. Recent 

i66 



Advertising the Church and Its Services 



changes in theology and Bible interpretation have laid the church 
basis for a new enthusiasm, which fits and interprets religion ^ 
to hearers, until they are stirred and developed. But people 
have fallen out of the habit of Church attendance. They 
are busy and unacquainted with the force of this new life. 
They must then, now as never, be turned towards the Church 
and aroused to the importance, helpfulness, and easy possi- 
bility of religious development. 

The word "advertise" occurs twice in the Bible, and Blessings 
"publish" one hundred times. Preach the gospel means pub- 
lish the good tidings. There were no presses, and so Paul 
wrote letters everywhere, to be read and passed on, adver- 
tising the blessings of his religion. 

Wesley compiled dozens of books covering every subject, Wesiey 
printed them cheaply, and peddled them persistently. His 
successors, the Methodists, own the largest publishing-house 
in the world, and their papers, under Mr. A. E. Dunn, 
furnish no mean medium for advertisers. Advertising is call- Authority 
ing attention to facts. Truth is back of it all. The Church 
can no longer exist by mere authority, or get a hearing by 
antiquated methods. It must be up-to-date in presentation 
of facts. It must get a hearing in the din caused by the rush 
of the material world. 

Objections Raised 

Why object to Church advertising? Look at a few "SacreJ" 
criticisms. "A sacred subject is made common." We are 
past the day when a man has a different code for the Church 
and business house. There can be no divorcement between 
religion and business. The latter is, after all, only pure 
morals. Sacred things are not stored up in Churches. No 
building is "sacred" unless it is made so by the individual. 
When religion becomes more "common" among men, the 
world will be better. 

167 



Workable Plans for Wide-Awake Churches 

Cheapening "It Icsscns rellgioii's appeal by cheapening it." The fact 
remains that most business men are so rushed that they sel- 
dom give personal religion any notice. If brought within 
their attention, old memories stirred will lead to action. 
The word "Church" facing them in prominent places con- 
stantly will arouse old home and boyhood scenes and youth's 
customs and promises. Publicity cheapens nothing. It raises 
the price of goods. The most widely advertised articles 
bring the biggest prices. An empty, dilapidated, rutty 
Church cheapens religion more than any other thing. 
"Dignity" "It spoils the preacher's dignity." Ministerial dignity 
ossifies some as do the bandages the mummy. They never 
bend, they never touch present-day life, they deal in dead 
theological platitudes, as powerless In giving torch leading 
light as a tallow dip is compared with an arc light. Better 
be a man with no external prerogatives. Character is the 
best badge to wear. God will honor good seed if sown 
without artificial dignity. 

Materialize "It tends to materialize the spiritual." All internal 
Impressions are either caused by external things, or express 
themselves in a material way. The most sacred relations 
known, that of husband and wife, come from love aroused 
by sight of face or picture. Jesus came to show the face of 
God. The Bible reproduces His likeness, and only the im- 
agination-user gets spiritual impulses from reading it. That 
Is poor religious feeling that does not lead to honest dealing, 
and visits to the poor and sick. When mysticism Is banished, 
and the naturalism of religion is emphasized, spirituality will 
be more general. 

Reasons for Advertising 

Confident But why advertlsc ? 

( I ) It shows life and enthusiasm born of a confident be- 
lief. Methodism won its way because its zeal knew no 

i68 



Advertising the Church and Its Services 

doubt. The Revolution secured liberty because confident 
fervency was not chilled by nakedness and ice. Political 
parties nominate only those whose character and spirit will 
command lively support. The successful salesman believes 
in his goods, and then is all alive to push them. Consistent 
advertising may show backing which will convince the sleepy 
or doubting. Ability alone produces advertising that tells, 
and this by means of arousing thought. If backed by truth, 
the advertiser and the article gain influence, respect, and 
reputation. A capable Church advertiser may thus stir good 
thoughts and insure respect for a cause which commands 
the time and enthuses the spirit of so capable a man. 

(2) The Church has a message for to-day. Theology To-Jay's 
has changed its forms. It fits present problems. Men do 

not know it. Many have only the memory of twenty-five 
years ago, when a future heaven was the chief topic. The 
masses must be forced to recognize that the Church has a 
solution and panacea for this world's problems and ills. 
Advertising compels attention to this fact. 

(3) It will reach men where they live. What good does Compel 
it do to cry out at them from the pulpit of an empty Church ? 
Newspapers, signs, street-car cards, magazine pages, face 
them daily. Words of meaning, force, and pertinency will 

nail their attention, and prod the ethical nature. It is to- 
day's method of "compelling them to come in." 

(4) It will mix religious thoughts with other things, Reminde 
and by memory, stimulation, and suggestion help keep men 
straight and clean. Many do not meet religion for months. 

A word or sentence may be a finger pointing to right, or to 
spirit culture. This sentence, "A homelike Church," has 
done it. 



169 



Workable Plans for Wide-Awake Churches 

Methods of Advertising 

Each pastor written believed earnestly in advertising. 
Only a few answers are given: 

Pastors' *'I believe in advertising the Church, but not in puffing 
replies ^j^^ preacher." — Minneapolis Pastor. "I use every respect- 
able way I can think of." — Rev. Paul B. Jenkins. ''Paid 
ads in newspapers for special notices."— Rev. A. B. Phil- 
putt. "In one newspaper we issue a notice every day." — 
Rev. W. H. Day. "Weekly thermometer (Church bulle- 
tin) distributed in hotels, boarding-houses, medical and 
dental colleges." — Rev. Charles L. Kloss. "Many pastors 
are too modest in their advertising." — Rev. R. L. Thrapp. 
"By making them as attractive as possible and using plenty 
of postage. Do . not believe in advertising in the news- 
papers." — Rev. George C. Peck. "Our Church believes 
in Church advertising, and is looking for some member who 
will take up this work according to modern methods." — 
Rev. Dr. Strong. 
Billion The question of "How" is a big one in every endeavor 
" of life, but it grows very large when coming to the question 
of Church advertising. More than one billion dollars is 
spent every year in the United States in secular advertising. 
The religious organization is curtailed here, as in other 
places, from the largest possible usefulness by lack of funds. 
It is hard to see that it pays by increasing the crowds and the 
communicants, and so the collections. 

Monthly The author's Official Board allow him the loose collec- 
tion taken the first Sunday night in the month for special 
publicity purposes. In this way those in sympathy with 
aggressive work along this line may give directly to it. A 
special treasurer is appointed who receives and disburses all 
sums, and makes a monthly report to the official body. . The 
pastor is given a free hand up to the limit of these funds. 

170 



Advertising the Church and Its Services 

The Hough Avenue Congregational Church, Cleveland, Press agent 
Ohio, has hired a professional "Press Agent" to give part 
of his time to advertising the Church. It is difficult to find 
one sufficiently familiar with the work, and at the same time 
understanding the spirit of the Church, to fill such a position. 
The pastor should usually originate or direct the advertising. The pastor 
It willpay him to subscribe for and read periodicals for ad- 
vertising specialists, as Ad-Sense^ Printer s Ink, The Bill 
Poster, Profitable Advertising, and The Same. It will not 
be a waste of time to read "Modern Advertising," by Ernest 
E. Calkins and Ralph Holden. (Published 1905. D. Ap- 
pleton & Co. Net, $1.50.) The illustrated display work 
and the suggestions will prove valuable. Gather all sorts 
of samples wherever found. Correspond with pushing pas- 
tors, and exchange ideas and samples. Select the best for an 
indexed scrap-book. 

Much skill can be shown in the form and wording of Terse 
advertisements. Old phrases, long sentences, common words, 
do not stick. "Uneeda," "Veribest," "Tacoma," impress, 
because short. Real skill can be acquired in framing subjects 
and pertinent facts, in striking words that remain in memory, 
light the path, and influence deeds. The author, imitating Signature 
some successful business advertisements, has had several cuts 
made of his signature, and uses this form on all printing 
where his name appears. 

The newspapers should be cultivated, both to obtain their Newspaper 

1 1*11 I- • 1 cultivation 

co-operation and to encourage them m the advocacy of right- 
eous causes and the choosing of high ideals. There is no 
greater power in our country to-day, and they are suscep- 
tible to the ministers' influence and will gladly welcome a 
broad and honest fellowship. Be friendly with the report- Reporters 
ers ; they will appreciate it personally. Some of the brightest 
people of earth work on newspapers. They will gladly print 

171 



Workable Plans for Wide-Awake Churches 



all the news given them. This keeps the -Church and your 
Church before the people. It often stirs right compelling 
memories. It even makes your own people appreciate their 
Church, and encourages you, as the results thus appear in a 
bunch. Gladly furnish the best possible abstract of your 
sermon to the newspapers, when they request it. Seed-sow- 
ing and harvest comes from it. 
Furnish Much illustrative work is now done by the dailies. 
News headed by pictures will be remembered. Furnish the 
papers good photographs of your church, of a special group 
of workers, of the young people "dressed up" for some enter- 
tainment (a Washington birthday crowd, for example), 
the Easter, Autumn Festival, or Christmas decorations, of 
some outside company of players or singers to assist in a serv- 
ice, of improvements made or contemplated, of some new 
sign or billboard. It may be necessary even for the modest 
pastor to furnish his picture, and to allow his name to appear 
many times. This is one sacrifice necessary in a vigorous 
publicity campaign. Neither, however, should ever appear 
except in connection with the name of his Church. 

'•Going on" Keep something going on, but make everything worth 
attending, and by all means get a reputation for making 
things go. In every possible way keep the Church, its serv- 
ices and work before the people. 

Newspaper Thc Rev. Dr. Garth, of St. Bartholomew's, Naugatuck, 
display Qonn., used a half-page newspaper advertisement in connec- 
tion with widely-posted bills. 
Magazine A large city Church, by placing an advertisement in a 
popular magazine would attract the visiting shoppers, or 
even start the negligent along lines of religious thought and 
activity because of the unexpected location of the invitation. 
In the warm season summer resort town Churches might 
also gain by it. It is now easier conscientiously to do this 



172 



paper items 



Advertising the Church and Its Services 

in such magazines as McClure's and Everybody' Sy which 
exclude hquor advertisements. 

Denominational organs ought to have regular news, so church 
that other Churches may be stirred to emulation, and visit 
ors may know and talk about that Church before coming to 
the town. 

It is now an almost universal custom to print weekly, Neighbor- 
or at least monthly papers containing the announcements 
and brief bits of news. These can be used to build 
an interest in the Church if a few are regularly distributed 
in the neighborhood of the Church. People will learn to 
look for them, and unconsciously absorb the spirit of the 
Church and grow an appetite satisfied only by coming. The 
extra ones thus used will entail very little added expense. 

It is debatable whether pulpit notices should be given Puipn 
or even emphasized when a bulletin is printed. Bishop 
Warren, a few months ago, described and approved a wide- 
awake and successful pastor who vigorously advertised the 
services, and recommended a book or two every Sunday. 
Usually the personal enforcement vivifies the "notice." 

An Eastern company, for six dollars a year, places the Hotels 
Church and its services in a framed Church directory in 
the hotels of the city. 

Postal cards announcing a special service may be mailed Postals 
to every family, to particular ones, or to outsiders who may 
be interested. They are better than one cent envelopes, 
which so frequently reach the waste-basket without reading. 
The card is turned over at once and perused. 

The best of us are forgetful. If we could scatter many Open 
reminders of the Church throughout the world, people would 
remember the narrow path more frequently. However we 
may disagree with the Roman Catholics, no one can but 
notice the effect of the many Alpine crosses on the minds 



173 



Workable Plans for Wide-Awake Churches 

of the Inhabitants. Churches located in downtown districts 
not only teach by their presence, but might Imitate Grace 
. and Trinity Churches In New York City,- by being open 
during the day for those who wish to withdraw for quiet 
Electric communion and prayer. If the Church's presence affects 
^' " a community, will not reminders of It also have an Influence ? 
A man and his family who never attend Church, and his 
name Is widely known, was attracted several blocks the other 
day to a service, because of the electric sign on Grace Church. 
Downtown Presbyterian Churches In St. Louis and Pitts- 
burg have Immense billboards in their yards, on which are 
printed pertinent Scripture texts. 
Street A large sign, with a fine reproduction of Grace Church 
painted on It, Is located just across the street from the Den- 
ver public library. Two other good-sized signs stand one 
block away in different directions. Just above the street 
sign, on ten or twelve near-by corners. Is a board the same 
size, with a hand pointing In the proper direction, and the 
words "Grace M. E. Church" following. This gives clear 
and quick help to the seeker. 
Bill-boards The Denver Episcopalian Churches combined In adver- 
tising a recent series of Lenten services, by posting fifty 
posters, each requiring eight full sheets of paper. When Dr. 
Chapman held Union meetings in Denver the Smith-Brooks 
Printing Company prepared a similarly sized bill, advertis- 
ing the services, "free, and "The Curran Company," bill 
posters, furnished space and posted fifty of them without 
charge. The author has advertised two series of revival 
services at Grace Church with the same number of eight- 
sheet bills. A couple of samples may be suggestive, so are 
given here. 



174 



REVIVAL MEETINGS 




S GMCE CHUKH 

= 2 BLOCKS WEST — 

DnCassell Music Leader 

Christian F.Rei$iier,PiiN(iier 



175 



ii 



TIME TO SEEK THE LORD 



fi 



EVANGELISTIC 
MEETINGS 

IK TEN DISTRICTS OF THE CITY 

AT ONCE 

JANUARY 4> TO 22 

LEADERSHIP J. WILBURCHAPMAN 

OF MEW YORK CITY=AND 20 ASSISTANTS 

EXPERT EVANGELISTS. SPECIAL SOLOISTS. 
CHEERING CHORUSES GO:=TODAY=GOI 



in 



THE HARVEST IS PAST.'' 



176 



HOimS TOUR HABITS? 



Revival Meetings 

AT GRACE CHURCH 

CORNER S. 141!! ST. AND W. 131!! AV£. 

NOW! 



STIRRING SINGING 
SHORT SPEAKING 



A HONELIKE Church 

CHRIS. F. REISNER PASTOR 

DAILY SERVICES 3.00 AND 7.30 



12 



177 



Workable Plans for Wide-Awake Churches 



Ch 



Dr. Chapman thought so much of billboards that since 
leaving Denver he has used them in a number of large 
cities; e. g., in Los Angeles and Newark, N. J. 
Catholics The custom is growing, and recently the Boston Cath- 
olics "billed" the town, advertising a "Mission." In spite 
of every objection that may be advanced, there is no question 
that scores of people are reached, moved, and influenced 
by this sort of advertising that are affected by no other. 
Hotel It is common to send committees to the hotels to address 
envelopes holding invitations to the Sunday services for the 
guests. Most of them are strangers, and can not easily find 
Church locations. Have a small card map to inclose, show- 
ing the prominent hotel positions, and the street or car lines 
leading to the Church. The city pastor's calling card might 
Maps have map designating the situation of his Church, with refer- 
ence to prominent streets or buildings, marked on its back; 
e. g., Trinity or Grace Church, Denver, could point out 
their nearness to and direction from the Capitol building. 

Grace Church, Denver, has pre- 
pared a neat button holding a pic- 
ture of the Church. Across the top 
are the words "Grace Methodist," 
and below the picture the words, 
A Homelike Church." These are 
given to all visitors during the tour- 
ist season as reminders of the 
Church, so that they may tell their 
friends about this place of worship. 
Souvenir Rev. J. W. Lec, while pastor of St. John's Methodist 
Episcopal Church, South, St. Louis, had a beautiful souve- 
nir postal card prepared for general distribution. It contains 
a picture of that majestic Church, so manufactured that by 
holding it up to the light a night scene with shining moon 
and illuminated building appears. 

178 



Picture 
button 



.C^ 





postals 



Advertising the Church and Its Services 

Other Churches are following the same plan. The cards Novel 
are of special value to a Church visited by many strangers. 
They will eagerly take them to mail their friends, and so 
spread abroad the name of the Church. 

The following unique notice, posted on White Church 
door, London, was bound to make an unusual Impression: 

STOLEN OR STRAYED: LOST OR MISLAID. 
(Luke xix, lo.) 

Missing — Last Sunday, some families from Church. 

Stolen — Several hours from the Lord's Day, by a number of 
people of different ages dressed in their Sunday clothes. 

Strayed— Half a score of lambs, believed to have gone in the 
direction of "No Sunday-school." 

Mislaid — A quantity of silver and copper coins on the counter 
of a public house, the owner being in a state of great excitement at 
the time. 

Wanted — Several young people. When last seen were walking 
in pairs up Sabbath Breakers' Lane, which leads to the city of No 
Good. 

Lost — A lad carefully reared, not long from home, and for a 
time very promising. Supposed to have gone with one or two older 
companions to Prodigal Town, Husk Lane. 

Any person assisting in the recovery of the above shall in no 
wise lose his reward. 

The Use of Printers 's Ink 

There are scores of ways to use printer's Ink in adver- Common- 
tlsing. It Is not sufficient to send out commonplace cards 
with ordinary wording. It is poor economy to employ an 
Inartistic or witless printer at any price. It is a waste of 
time to mention things people already know about the 
Church. Welcome, good singing, gospel preaching, free 
pews, are words so common as to be unnoticed. All printed 
matter should announce an out-of-the-ordinary event or fea- 
ture in few and striking words, printed so that they will 
strike home. 

179 



Workable Plans for Wide-Awake Churches 



Special In thickly-settled neighborhoods bills, holding a few 
^^"■"^^ words announcing some special feature, draw the neighbor- 
hood in. Big type pushing out a few striking words is bet- 
ter than many words filling the bill. It can then be read if 
Striking seen lying on the porch. It Is hard to describe a bill, but 
here is the big tj^pe sentence on a few: '*A Drink of Water," 
"Get Up Early Sunday," "Breeze — Night" (used in sum- 
mer), "President Roosevelt — ^W. J. Bryan" (in small type, 
"Their Christian Ideals"), "Hypocrites," "Thirty-five 
Boys," "Mandolin and Guitar Club," "Fifty Voices" (In 
red Ink), "University Male Quartet," "Will You Be 
There?" "Boys' Brass Band," "Boy Soloist," "Do You 
Know?" "Concert" (in large red letters "At Grace Church, 

Illustrations March 4th, 7.30 P. M."). Whenever possible a picture of 
- the performers was used on the bill. Thirty-five thousand 
folders announcing the closing week of Dr. Chapman's meet- 
ing In Denver were prepared. On the front was a business 
man sitting in a chair saying, "It Will Pay You to Go." 
On the back was the picture of a burning candle and the 
words, "The Last Week." ^ Curiosity led people to read the 
detailed notices on the inside. 

Distribution The writer is a novice In the business of advertising, 
but will, at the risk of criticism, reproduce a few bills 
actually used, and which have helped to fill a Church once 
without an evening service, and that under some of Meth-, 
odism's greatest preachers, and having never before had 
more than a small night audience. One thousand are printed 
every Friday, and a young man Is hired to put them under 
Expenses the front door. They are simple and "cheap," because the 
funds are limited. Two Grace Church young men print 
them for one dollar a thousand, and one dollar Is paid the 
young student for "passing" them. It is surprising how 
much can be done with a little money, wise management, 
and use of the Church's friends. 

> 180 



Is There a 
Hell? 

The Subject Sunday at 7.30 P. M., at Grace Church, Corner S. 14th Street 
and W 13th Avenue 

Lari Clorii; lit LiYe Siiii 



Dr. Cassell in Charge 

interest and attendance 



...DEMANDS... 

One more week of Special Services 

January 28ih to February 4th 



/"W 




<^ 


tJ 
^ 


SUBJECTS 


^ 


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tli 


fs 


Monday 


Thursdat 


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^ 


"Who Is responsible for sin- 


•• Saved Without Christ" 


fj 


Josh. M to 15 


Acts 4 and 12 


PQ 
o 


TUESDAY 


Friday 


•Death Bed Kepentance" 


•Ought Children Join the 

Church" 

Mark 10, IS and M 


> 


Lk.23.30ancl43 


H 




Wednesday 


Sunday (7.30) 




S 


■Am I Good Euough" 


• Is There a Personal God" 


•■vy 


£> 


Lk. 18. »anU4 


John 1-12 



Ji3(VV(4toUAi^ri^^ "A HOMELIKE t<^ 

- -^ church" 

Large Chorus. New Songs. Special Solos 



Dr. Cassel 

CHURCH" Music Leader 



i8i 



BOY 

Soloist 

Dr. Cassell 

''Two Denver Men'' 

at Grace Church, Cor. S. 14th St. and W. 13th Ave, 

Sunday, 1= Jan. 14th 



ROUSING SERVICE 



W^TvidiijjMpMi^ 



'a home-like church 



Revival Mee>tings Begin 



10.30 Sermon Subject, "Are Revivals Needed" 
P. S.— Children's Orchestra at Sunday School. Boy Soloist sings 



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BY. 



MENDELSSOHN 
QUABTETTE 

Mrs. E. M. Stockham, Reader 
Chas. Housley, Violinist 

Soloists and Large Chorus Choir 

Sunday, June Nth, 1905, 7.45 P. M. 

GraccCburcb 





Corner Sooth Htb Street and ^est 13th Avenue 

Short Talk, '^A Musical Man^ 
iBUu^AxA^^M)\fr Pastor 

R V BROWN C. D SCHMIDLAP 

f'"' B^" "A Honie-UiKe CH.jrch- SeconUBasi 



184 






t=3:=J 



185 



Chorus of 



50 VOICES 

assisted by 

MADAME MAYO RHOADS 

and 

T. NEVIN CLARK 

Celebrated Tenor of Chicago 
and 

PROF. EARL A. JOHNSON 

Organist, will render a Wagner 

Concert 

at Grace M. E. Church 

Corntr S. Iflth St. and W l.iih Ave. 

Sunday Evening; October 8th; 1905 

7.30 (Promptly) 

Short Talk, ^^THE GREAT SONG" 



"A HOME-LIKE CHURCH" 



l86 



^ LOOK ! ^ 




Mandolin 
and 
Guitar 

Quartette 



At GRACE METHODIST "A Homelike church' 

Cor. S. J4th St. and W. I3th Ave, 

Sunday. April 8, 7;30. J- **Are You Registered?" 
J 0:30 a. m.-**Lord*s Prayer Service/' 



Revival Meetings 

NOV/ 

at the GRACE M. E. CHURCH, 

Corner South Fourteenth St. and West Thirteenth Ave. 

A HOMELIKE CHURCH. 

187 



Hypocrites 

in the Church is the Subject at 

Grace Church 

Corner S 14th St. and W 13th Ave. 

Sunday Evening. October 29, 1905. 7.30 

Special Selections by the 

Carge €boru$ 

CHOIR 
Questions from audience will be answered 



A HOMB-LIKE CHURCH** 



Morning, 10.30, Sermon Subject. "Winning Workers' 
Special Program Junior League 3.30 P. M. 



i88 



^J ^7J YOU 

IN OUR 

Young Men's Bible Class 

MELD SUNDAY NOON 

(Immediately after morning worship) 

Grace Methodist Episcopal Church 

A HOMTLIKE CHURCH 

Cor. S. 14th Ave and W. 13th St 



Presbnted by. 



Pres. Roosevelt 

...and... 

W. J. BRYAN 

Theit Christian Ideals will be the Subject at 
GRACE M. E. CHURCH 

Cor. S. nth St. and W 13th Avenue 

5^uriday, Dec. 18tH 

7.30 P. M. 

CHRISTIAN F REISNER ^ - PASTOR 

Spocieil Musical Numbers 

Next Sunday Evening Subject 

"CHRISTMAS PRESENT" 

189 



PRAOY'S 



mandolin ^ Guitar 
0ub 



♦♦♦ll^l^^%^444 



At GRACE METHODIST, 'A Home-Like Church" 

Corner South 14th and West 13th Avenue 
Sunday, 7.30 P. M., March 18th. 



iAnatiijjMj^Mxihr 



10.30 Sermon— "Lord's Prayer" 



P. S.— Prof. Tracy lives at 235 W 1st and is a well-known Mandolin and 
Guitar teacher* 

* This notice is given in return for the free services of the Club. 



Do you Know 




The Sermon Subject at Grace Church 

Corner 13th and 14th 

Sunday Evening, May 14th, 7.30 

CHRISTIAN F. REISNER. PASTOR 

A HOME-LIKE CHURCH 



Chorus of 



35 Boys 

will sing at 

at Grace Church, Cor. S. I4th St. and W. 13th Ave. 

SUNDAY EVENING, 7.30, DECEMBER 31st 

Christmas Music Repeated 

GREAT WATCH NIGHT SERVICE UNTIL 

MIDINIGMT 

Short Talk after 9 o'clock by Drs. Houghton, Rankin, 

Mark ley 

7.30 Sermon Subject **THp LaSt Dav" 



'A HOME- LIKE CHURCH 



Morning, 10.30 Sermon, *' God's Goodness" 



191 



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^ The subject, 

together with'special 

MUSIC 

by 
Prof. Shonian, Mandolin, 

Prof. Housley, Violin, 

Miss Ward. Soloist, 

ChoruB Choir, 

GRACE CHURCH, 

S. Hth and W. 13th. 

Sunday Evening, 7:45, July 16, 1905. 

PASTOR. 
13 193 



Workable Plans for Wide-Awake Churches 




Once or twice a year it will pay to hire a regular distrib- 
utor to cover the whole town, or a big section of the city 
adjacent to the Church, with a striking bill for an ex- 
traordinary service. 
Small cards Men will carry and distribute small cards that will 
easily go into their pockets. Dr. Chapman uses a great 
many of this sort, having them scattered among the audi- 
ence in bunches of five and ten, with the request that they 
be given out to friends the next day. The following little 
card, one inch by two inches in size, has been used by the 
author for a great many purposes. Its tininess makes it in- 
teresting and convenient: 



2VOW 

is the time Jan. 14-28 

GLAD SINGING, led by Dr. Cassell 

LIVE SUBJECTS, Christian F. Reisner 

At Grace Methodist Church 

Cor. S. 14th and W. 13th 

A homelike Church 

Let this O-RtO'NPV into a visit 

194 



Advertising the Church and Its Services 

A clothing firm in Atch'ison, Kansas, employed a new Reading 
method worthy of imitation. An announcement was pub- 
lished in a daily paper, with the following footnote: "Ten 
dollars in cash to the man, woman, or child who will read 
this advertisement aloud to the greatest number of people 
between now and November lOth, 12 o'clock noon. Every 
competitor must secure the signature and address of all the 
persons to whom this advertisement is read. The prize will 
be given to the person securing the largest authentic list.'* 
This plan could be employed with a live tract. It could 
be utilized for the spread of some new plan, or even for 
the announcement of the regular services. The newness 
of the method would attract. The signature would settle 
it Into the memory. The names gathered could be further 
used in sending out later announcements. The territory 
may be limited. The additional facts as to Church member- 
ship or sympathies may also be gathered. The reward Is 
for work and Is not, therefore, objectionable. 

St. Mark's English Lutheran Church, Atchison, Kansas, Blotters 
A. E. Renn, pastor. Issued a blotter advertising the Church 
services, with three Scripture verses having "Blot" In them 
printed on it. (Isa. xliv:22; Acts HI: 19; Rev. iii:5.) 

Grace Church Issues a desirable and attractive calendar a church 
every year, reproducing on it a picture of the church, and 
giving a full list of the services, together with a few concise 
and helpful Scripture passages. A small advertisement is. 
placed in the corner by a local firm, who for this privilege 
pays the printer's bill. The Deaconess personally puts them 
out in all the near-by lodging, boarding houses, and hotels. 
This leaves a year long Invitation, in a prominent place, 
to all of the services. The calendar is changed and improved 
every year. 



195 



necessary 



Workable Plans for Wide-Awake Churches 

Church Bulletins 

Church services are so numerous and varied and so 
many things crowd into the hand and mind, that a Church 
bulletin or paper of some kind is indispensable in town as 
Names well as city Churches. The names employed by different 
Churches vary. Here are a few: The Bulletin, St. Mark's 
Leaflet, The Weekly Reminder, The Greeting, Church 
Leaf, The Church Life, Weekly Messenger. Others simply 
Firm print the name of the Church. Many pay for the printing 

^ ""menfs and cvcn clear money, by soliciting advertisements for the 
back. This is economical, though some object to Sunday 

The front advertising in the Church. Nearly all put the picture of 
the church on the first page. University Avenue Church, 
Syracuse, N. Y., has instead a beautiful red cross in the 
grip of a hand. The First Congregational Church of 
Peoria changes every week, having either poetry or some 
striking words. Here is one form used : 

Creed — a circle embracing all the truth which radiates from Jesus 

Christ. 
House of worship — a school for learners, a field for workers, a 

shelter for the weak, a citadel for the strong. 
Undertaking — the spread of gospel to individual, society, and world. 
Religion — a life rational, humane, divine. 
Compensation — the deep values of approving conscience — the "well 

done" of God. 
Hope — the ultimate and universal sway of Truth and Love and 

Peace. 

Reverence Thc followittg Quotatiott Is printed on very many front 
. pages : 

"Whosoever thou art that enterest this Church, enter it not 
without the spirit of reverence, and leave it not without one Prayer 
to God for thyself, for those who minister, and for those who wor- 
ship here." 

196 



Advertising the Church and Its Services 



The inside usually contains the order of services. Some inside 
merely name the different parts. Others print the hymn 
numbers, or even the words, the anthem and organ 
selection titles, (Lindell Avenue Methodist of St. Louis, 
and Brick Presbyterian Church, New York City, print the 
words of the anthem,) the Scripture references and sermon 
subject. Then follow the services for the day. A few 
print the title of the Sunday-school lesson and where found, 
together with the attendance and collection the preceding 
Sunday. The majority take a large part of a page to give Committees 
all the Church officers and societies. This appears like a 
waste of space. A limited number are sufficient for gener- 
ally needed information. Meridian Street Methodist Church, 
Indianapolis, has a list of the ushers on the front page. 

The Lexington Avenue Baptist, Chicago, calls the Evening 
evening service * 'The People's Service." Grace Church, ^*'^'"''^ 
Denver, calls it "Happy Sunday Evening." The Lexington Contributors 
Avenue Church keeps the members' envelope-numbers 
printed on the back and records the amount paid in the 
preceding Sunday after each number. These numbers 
could also be left standing and the amount due from each 
number be printed there until paid. An itemized account income 
of income, from envelopes, loose collection, and Sunday- 
school is printed regularly by the same Church. 

The First Presbyterian Church, Los Angeles, runs theLadi 
following notice: "Ladies are requested to remove their hats 
during the service. The ladies' parlor and cloak room at 
north entrance will be open before and after service." 

The Westminster Presbyterian Church of Bloomfield, Late 
N. J., prints the following at the beginning of the order 
of service, in small type: 

"The Session request those who may come in late not to take 
their seats during the Doxology and Invocation, the reading of 
Scripture, or Prayer." 



les 
hats 



Workable Plans for Wide-Awake Churches 



Silence THc Utiion Avenue Christian Church, of St. Louis, 
prints the following in a conspicuous place: **Let there be 
perfect silence in every part of the house as soon as the 
organ begins." 
Calls Grand Avenue Methodist Episcopal Church, Kansas 
City, Mo., Rev. Daniel McGurk, pastor, runs two splen- 
did notices, with the blanks for signatures. The first 
deals with calling, and is as follows: 

FOR THE PASTOR'S INFORMATION. 

It will greatly assist the pastor if you will kindly use this blank 
for the pastor's information. 

You may become a pastor's assistant by using the form below. 
Check the prt)per item or items thus V. 

Please call at once soon on 

Residence. 

Reason — Sickness Bereavement Strangers. 

Disciple- The second clearly describes the confession necessary 
for discipleship, and is as follows : 

PROBATIONARY MEMBERSHIP. 

If you can sign the following declaration you are eligible to 
probationary membership in the Church. Those desiring such mem- 
bership please fill blanks and hand to pastor at the close of any reg- 
ular service. 

Having an earnest desire to he sa'ved from my sins, and being 
firmly purposed to guard against all things contrary to the Word of 
God and to stri'ue to live a Christ-like life, and being determined 
by God's kelp to avail myself of the means of grace afforded by the 
Church, I desire to be received into probationary membership in this 
Church. 



Name 



Street and No 

198 



Advertising the Church and Its Services 

Another form found regularly in a number of bulletins 
is as follows: 



KINDLY NOTICE. 

Check square giving Information for the pastor, fill the blanks below, 
and deposit in the offering bag. 



Moved to ad 
dress below 



Special call 
desired soon 



Strangers 

desire to meet 

pastor 



Sickness 



New people 
in my neigh- 
borhood 



Name. 



Street No. 



The First Baptist Church, Worcester, Mass., puts this n 
at the head of the **News and Notes" "Read and discuss 
at dinner table to-day." 

Ft. Collins (Colo.) Methodist Episcopal Church, S. E. offl 
Ellis, pastor, prints the following: "The Pastor will be 
found at the parsonage, 303 S. College Ave., from i lOO 
to 2 :oo each day, except Sunday. As far as possible let 
all desiring to see him call at that time." 



hours 



199 



CHAPTER IX. 
Winning and Working the Men. 

Men and Religion 

Bethany Dr. J. WiLBUR Chapman frcqucntly declares that 
Brotherhood mcn Ere easily won to Christ if we go after them. He tells 
in "Fishing for Men" (the Winona Publishing Co., Page 
15 fiE,i904), about the origin of the Brotherhood of Bethany 
Church, Philadelphia. "I had just accepted the pastorate 
of this important Church and was standing at the foot 
of the pulpit steps one morning after I had preached my 
sermon when an aged man passed along and taking me 
by the hand said: 'Well, sir, I am very much afraid 
that you will make this pastorate a failure. I certainly 
know that you will without help. We have had distin- 
guished men here as pastors of this Church and you are 
young and I tremble for j^ou; but I have stopped to say to 
you that I am going to help you.' It seemed almost 
ridiculous and I wondered what this old man could do 
Beginning for me. Thcn he said: *I have covenanted with two 
other men to pray for you so long as you are the pastor 
of this Church and we have determined to ask that God 
will make you a winner of souls.' Then I looked aboutv 
the great church with eyes filled with tears and knew in 
my heart that God was going to give us a manifestation 

Growth of His presence and power in that work. The three men 
became ten, the ten grew to twenty, the twenty numbered 
one hundred and the 'Brotherhood' grew until at last it 

200 



Winning and Working the Men 

came to be true that every Sunday morning from 9:45 to 
10:45, from four to six hundred men met for prayer and 
conference. The meetings were thrilling in their interest. 
Not a service was held without conversions. The men 
prayed for God's blessing upon me as their pastor. They Conversions 
frequently accompanied me into the church. They some- 
times formed a great choir in the gallery and sang with 
great effect. Again they occupied seats in different parts 
of the house arid watched for souls. They stood by me 
when I preached on the streets. They went with me as 
a great army when I conducted meetings in another part 
of the city. They still stand close to me in their affections. 
When I was called away from the church, so important Wanamaker 
was the service deemed to be, that Honorable John Wana- 
maker, the senior elder of the Church and the honored 
superintendent of the Bethany Sunday-school, decided to 
give a portion of his valuable time to the 'brotherhood' 
work. .He now meets with the men every Sunday morning. 
He has aided them in erecting a club-house to which they 
have free access and he himself has publicly said that there 
is no greater work to be accomplished to-day by the ministers 
and Church officers than the work in the interests of men. 
To one seeking the best organization for such work I 
would say: Study the principles of this 'Brotherhood of 
Andrew and Philip.' " 

Men are always ready to talk about personal religion. Neglected 
if it is discussed in a private and natural way. Bishop 
McDowell once preached a sermon on **The Man at the 
Desk" with Levi (Matthew) as the basis for discussion. 
He insisted that we went after business men for money 
only, while they are hungry for personal acquaintance with 
Christ, We ought, as Churches, to give evangelistic atten- 
tion to men. Every pastor should feel a heart pressing Husbands 
burden for the husbands of women members of his Church. 

201 



Workable Plans for Wide-Awake Churches 



He already has an attached thread and often a stronger 
Male hold upon them. Definite cases prayerfully fixed upon, 

meetings 

will make direct effort possible. The women have their 
societies and particular gatherings. Men like to have their 
crowds together and will enjoy various strictly male meet- 
ings. Some men are timid. Most Church gatherings are 
so overwhelmingly female in patronage that men are lost 
sight of both in the program and in the crowd. They are 
not impressed. But men impress each other. No organ- 
ization for men is yet entirely satisfactory. We may start 
a St. Paul's Brotherhood or a Wesleyan Brotherhood or 
a Brotherhood of St. Andrew or a Brotherhood of Andrew 
and Philip or we may find a local name. If it is not possible 
to get a full fledged organization, then a committee can 
be gathered three or four times a year and a special meeting 
of some sort arranged. No Church is too small or too 
weak to follow some specific plan to reach, hold and train 
men. 

Prayer Thc "Men's Prayer Circle" connected with the Boyle 
Heights Methodist Episcopal Church in Los Angeles has 
accomplished remarkable good. For many months they 
never held a weekly meeting without one or more men 
being converted. Grant Avenue Methodist Episcopal 
Church in Denver has a Wesley Brotherhood which has 
been holding men's afternoon meetings every other Sunday 
with conversions at almost every service. 

Sunday In Dr. J. Wilbur Chapman's book ''Fishing for Men," 

aternoon^^^^ S. B. Aldcrson, D. D., Portsmouth, Ohio, tells of a 

series of Sunday afternoon meetings for men which have 

revolutionized his Church and the town with reference' 

Secular to men in the Church. Dr. Alderson started by holding 
Friday evening meetings for men with addresses by promi- 
nent people on secular subjects, such as: Banking, Deposit, 
Circulation and Protection of Money, by a banker; 

202 



Winning and Working the Men 

Wages, How to Invest Small Savings, by a manufacturer; 
The Personal Care of the Human Body, by a physician. 
There was no men's organization. A committee of three 
selected the subjects and the speaker. The program Included 
no prayer, no religious songs, no Scripture reading. Religion 
was never Introduced. The first evening was rainy and 
only eight attended, but this quickly grew to an average 
attendance of two hundred. The meetings continued 
through two winters, when a Sunday afternoon service for 
men over sixteen years of age, was proposed. This service Undenomina- 
was undenominational and choice of Christ and not of 
Church was urged. It was led by different men of Chris- 
tian profession and standing. Frequently five or six hun- 
dred are present and many are converted. The regular 
Church services and even the Sunday-school has more 
males than females In It. In some cities the Y. M. C. A. m 
runs such a vigorous men's rally that local Churches need 
not provide them. This, however. Is not true everywhere. 
Many localities In great cities even can hold them while 
central meetings are going on. In fact. Dr. Alderson 
declares that some of the best audiences assembled when 
two or three other Churches ran similar services. 

Men and the Social Life 

The male social nature requires attention and satis- Provide 
faction. It will pay to provide for it In the church or 
where a clean atmosphere exists and the wine cup Is 
unknown. Wide and wise Ingenuity Is necessary to do 
the greatest good. 

Grace Church, Denver, had a Men's Irish Mystery "iHsh 
Party, celebrating St. Patrick's Day. There being no 
men's organization In the Church, the pastor picked out 
fifteen young men and a '-ranged to have them meet at 
the lunch hour at a restaurant. The idea was then pro- 

203 



en s 
rally 



party 



Invitations 



Workable Plans for Wide-Awake Churches 

posed and adopted. The invitations were worded in Irish 
and printed in green ink. It read as follows: 




WE BEG THE HONOR OF YOUR RIVERINT PRISINCE 
AT A RIVILRY KNOWN AS THE 

MOWS IRISH MYSTHERY PARTHY 

ON THE AVENIN OF MARCH THE SIXTEENTH, AT THE 
HOISE OF I2S7 SOUTH FOURTEENTH STHRATE. iST 
HOME SO. OF CHURCH. 

GAMES OF I VERY SART AND A PROGRAMME OF 
MIX-UPS WILL COM PH RISE THE AVENIN'S INTHERTAIN- 
MENT. 

ON THE AVE OF SAINT PHADRIG'S BIRTHDAY YEZ 
BE EXPECTED TO TELL A PHUNNIE STHORIE, AND YEZ 
MUST NOT TALK FOR MORE THIN TWO MI NITS AT 
ANY ONE TOIM. THE MON BEIN AFTHER TELLIN THE 
BEST LOYE WILL EXTINGUISH HIMSILF AND GIT A 
NEW HAT; THE MON PERTUTRAYTING THE LOYE 
WHAT COMES SICOND TO THE FOIRST, WILL BE FOINLY 
REWARDED WID GLOVES, FOR THE SMARTNESS OF HIS 
WIT. WRITE YEZ STHORIE ON A SCRAP OF PAPER AND 
GUV IT TO THE JIDGES FOR THERE MYSTHIFICAYTION 
AND THRAYMENDOUS DISPUTHAYTION. 

SOMETHIN FOR THE INNER MON WILL BE DIS- 
THRAYBUTED DURIN THE AVENIN FOLLOW IN THE 
ABOVE RHEUMANATHION, AND THERE WILL BE FUN 
GOIN ON I VERY BLISS ID MOMENT OF THE TOIM. 

WEAR YOUR I VERY DAY CLOY THE S AND AN IM- 
BLEM OF THE BLISSED SAYNT IN YOUR TOI, AND BRING 
ALONG YOUR SCHLALY. 

DOORS OPEN AT 8 O'CLOCK SHARP, AND THE GOINS- 
ON WILL BEGIN SOON AFTHER. 

THE ABUV GALLINACEOUS INVITASHION IS EX- 
TINDED IN MIMORY OF THE GOOD SAYNT PHADRIG, 
BY THE GINTLEMIN WHOSE NAMES ARE MENSHIONED 
ON THE ACCOMPHANIN CAIRD. 

204 



Winning and Working the Men 



The names of the fifteen men were inclosed on a card 
with the Invitation, sent to every man In the Church and 
congregation. The parsonage being large and central was Decorationc 
chosen as the place for the party. A committee of men 
decorated profusely with green. Five hundred shamrocks 
were cut out of green card board and strung on baby 
ribon. These stringers were used from the corners of the 
rooms to the chandeliers. A blarney stone was placed so 
that one must lean over the stair banister to kiss It. Large 
green signs such as "Welcome to Blarney Castle, Erin 
Go Bragh," etc., were In conspicuous places. A stuffed 
pig, numerous potatoes and a beautiful Irish harp were 
arranged for the dining room. The refreshment committee Refresh- 
furnished lettuce sandwiches, potato c!ilps, coffee, green 
Ice cream and cake covered with green icing. The enter- 
tainment committee had charge of games on the third 
floor. They secured twenty pounds of peanuts. They Games 
made bean bags, fixed a board against the wall with different 
sized holes In It and offered a certain number of peanuts 
to those throwing the bags through the holes. In another 
part of the room a young man dressed as an Irish dude 
stood with his head thrust through a hole In a sheet while 
guests were given large soft rubber balls with which they 
tried to hit him In the face. Peanuts rewarded the one 
who succeeded. Tiring of these games, guests went down Funny 
to the double parlors where each man had to tell a funny """^ 
Irish story. The man relating the best story was given 
a new hat by one of the merchants of the city. Surprising 
talent was in this way discovered. Several other rooms Other 
had different games and the committee made It Its business 
to see that no one was left to stand around "wall-flower" 
fashion. Every one had a shamrock card marked with 
his name and pinned on his coat lapel. Many dressed in 

205 



ive suijper 



Workable Plans for Wide-Awake Churches 

Irish style. Cob-webbed strings which guests must follow 
to the end gets them acquainted.. 
"Progress- First Methodist Episcopal Church, Colorado Springs, 
had a unique men's supper recently. F. P. Barber, the 
loyal and efficient Sunday-school superintendent, thus 
describes it: "We had seven long tables that held twenty 
each. The men assembled upstairs and only twenty at a 
time were admitted to the dining room below. When the 
first set had finished the soup course they moved to the 
next table, taking their napkins with them. Twenty more 
were then admitted and seated at table number one and 
served soup. Each table was set apart for serving one 
course. When the tables were full 140 were eating but 
table number seven was finishing the last course while 
table number one was just beginning. There was a pro- 
gram going on all of the time so that those waiting and 
those finishing did not find the time dragging heavily." 
The menu printed was as follows: 



nEi« 



TABLE NO. ONE 

Soup — 'Campbell's Clam Chowder 
Frotn Roivell & Puffer Merc. Co. 

TABLE NO. TWO 

Armour & Co.'s Sirloin of Beef 
Swift's Premium Ham, Boiled, with Burgess Catsup 
''"' Columbia Steam Bakery's Bread 

T. J. Brown's Diamond Butter 

206 



Winning and Working the Men 



TABLE NO. THREE 

Potato Salad, a la Methodist 

Ira J. Morse's "Commission House" Celery 

TABLE NO. FOUR 
Friedline & Taggart's Diligent Pickles 
O. E. Hemenway's "Hot House" Olives 

TABLE NO. FIVE 

Colorado Springs Baked Beans 

a la Shields-Morley 

Boston Brown Bread 

from the Vienna Bakery {Philip Nohe) 

Long's Saratoga Chips 

Brink's Special Blend of Coffee 

TABLE NO. SIX 

Ice Cream {Mueth's, of course) 

Fancy Home-made Cake 

TABLE NO. SEVEN 

Assorted Home-made Candy 

{Made at the factory of Mrs. Hull's Sunday-school 

Class) 



The Broadmoor Dairy furnished the milk for this dinner. 
The Sinton-Dairy furnished the cream for this dinner. 
This card compliments of Gowdy-Simmons Printing Co. 

The provisions were donated by different firms who Supplies 
were advertised on the menu, with the courses, In return. 
In this way expenses were almost nothing and, though 
the charge was only twenty-five cents, ninety dollars was 
cleared. 

A short time before, a men's committee of the same Grace 

Church 

Church arranged a high class banquet. The Ladles' Aid banquet 
furnished the provisions and handled the kitchen. The 
young men waited on the tables, which were beautifully 

207 



Workable Plans for Wide-Awake Churches 

Noted decorated and placed in the parlors of the church. The 
guests and speakers included the Governor, the President 
of the Chamber of Commerce, three judges, a prominent 
bank president and the president of the Y. M. C. A. (a 
banker). Fifty cents a plate was charged for the dinner, 
the proceeds going to the ''Ladies' Aid." Each speaker 
handled some phase of the Christian, active in the world's 
affairs. Here are the subjects: 
No. 181 

MEN'S BANQUET 

— AT — 

fince * metbodist * episcopal « (Kburcb 

Corner S. 14th St. and W. 13th Ave. 

Friday Evening, November 1 7th, 6*30 R M. 

Toast IVlaster, Judge O. B. Liddell 

Invocation . . . Bishop Henry White Warren 

The Christian and Law, - Judge Campbell, of Supreme Court 

The Christian in Public Office - - Gov. Jesse McDonald 

The Christian and the Inforcement of Law - _ _ 

Judge Frank T. Johnson, of District Court 
The Christian Man, - J. W. Gilluly, Treas. D. & R. G. R. R. 

The Christian in Business, - Hon. W. A. Hover, Pres. U. S. Bank 
The Christian and the City, . . _ . - 

Hon. J. S. Temple, Pres. Chamber of Commerce 
The Christian, Active - - - - To be announced 

Music furnished by Prof. Schonian's String Orchestra 

Dinner served by the Ladies of the Church 

ADMISSION, 50c. Present this ticket at the door 

**A Home-like Church" 

The speaker should be reputable and well known. Their 
words bear weight. This banquet started many more in 
the city and commanded attention to the Church besides 
encouraging the men and opening the gospel to some who 
never attend religious services. 

2o8 



Winning and Working the Men 



^arish 



Reverend Frances Theodore Brown, pastor of the First Par.sh 
Methodist Episcopal Church, New Haven, Conn., runs a '''°'^''"*'°°'^ 
very successful "Parish Brotherhood," broad enough, 
according to his description, in its scope to tate in men not 
members of the Church. "Any man in the parish who Me.bersi,ip 
believes m the things for which the Church stands and 
is willing to co-operate in any degree in furthering them," 
may join. It is largely social and holds a "men's evening" Mon.hiv 
every month with an interesting program followed by a'""' 
buffet lunch for which very slight dues provide. The Addresses 
addresses deal with civic questions, science, literature, 
travel, etc.; e. g. Prof. Judd, of Yale, gave a fascinating 
talk on "Optical Illusions." Prof. Winchester, of 
"Wesleyan,'' gave two readings. An inner circle is all 
the time using a larger organization as a fishing pond for 
"catching men alive." They also have charge of a monthly Su„da. 
Sunday evening service with a special speaker and music, """' 
holding an after service, especially inviting strangers to 
remain. "The speaker of the evening meets the men and 
they have a 'sing.' Once in a long while they have a cup 
and a bite of something together, and 'family prayers' 
before they part." Prof. William Lyon Phelps, Ph. D., 
and Dean Henry Wade Rogers, LL. D., both of Yale, were 
recent Sunday evening speakers. 

Henry Beecher Pickard, for eight years pastor of Or 
Epworth Memorial Church, Cleveland, Ohio, and now in ^'^^'^ 
charge of Richmond Avenue, Buffalo, tells in the March'" 
22, 1906, Issue of The Christian Advocate about a success- 
ful plan for men's clubs. Once a month at 6:30 the club Mon.y. 
sits down to a meat supper at twenty-five cents a plate. """'' 
Return postal cards are sent out and by the acceptances 
it is known how many to prepare for. Those promising 
to come pay even though failing to attend. At six o'clock 
occurs a social half hour. After eating, before rising from 

>9 



H 20. 



Workable Plans for WIde-Awake Churches 

Program the tablc, thc program is rendered. Here are some subjects: 
''College Night," ''Science Night," "Cleveland Night.'" 
Once a year the boys are Invited. An annual outing Is 
held. A cheap book containing college and popular songs 
Is provided and a song Is started during the meal or at 
Meals any time. The commissary committee buys the food and 
hires the cook. Frequently 200 men sit down together. 
Sunday Oncc B. year there Is a "Ladles'-NIght Banquet." They 

committee , , . . . ■. 

have a large reception committee to greet men in relays at 
Work the Sunday night service. The committees do the work. 
Here Is the list: — Program, Commissary, Dining room. 
Membership, Sunday Reception, Music, Publicity, Philip 
and Andrew, Boys' work. Athletics, Bible class and Expan- 
sion. 
Minneapolis A MlnncapolIs pastor answering a question, declared 
that the best work In his Church Is done by a "men's club 
which meets In the social rooms of the church on the last 
Friday of each month at 6 P. M. The men come directly 
Adiourn from business. The ladles serve supper. Each time they 
have an address and a discussion and adjourn at eight 
o'clock. 112 attended one meeting. The average attend- 
ance Is about 75." 
Noon lunch R^v. W. H. Day brings an Important plan to renewed 
committee attention when he says: "I believe In the downtown 
lunch table for men's committees." The Denver Inter- 
national Epworth League Convention management adopted 
this plan universally. They always had a full attendance 
and the eating created a congenial and' even spirit for 
business. They also ate dinner together at 6 o'clock, 
completed their business and were enabled to meet evening 
engagements or to go home and remain Instead of being 
compelled to rush home and back again. Since then, many 
civic organizations and Church societies in the city have 

210 



Winning and Working the Men 

adopted the same plan. In this day of hurry and city life 
every moment and ounce of strength must be economized. 

Rev. E. L. Pow^ell, of Louisville, Ky., says: "We give Annual 
an annual banquet for the men of our Church. These *°''"^' 
banquets have present some 500 men and they are conducted 500 men 
in the same w^ay as an ordinary banquet, w^ith the exception, 
of course, of having the objectionable features eliminated. 
We generally have some four or five speeches in response 
to sentiments that have been selected by myself. The v^^hole 
purpose of this banquet is to promote good fellowship and 
enlarge our circle of acquaintance." 

The Men's Association of the Brick Presbyterian Brick 
Church, New^ York City, have the follow^Ing committees : — coi^utees 
Announcements, Bible Students' Class, Civic, Employment, 
Entertainment, Hotel, Legal Aid, Medical Aid, Strangers, 
Students, and Year Book. This gives an index of their 
work. They raise a thousand dollars by private subscription Foreign 
to support a Medical Foreign Missionary In Slam. They 
also purchased for him (he was one of their own members) 
a camera with which he was to take pictures to send back 
for their use. A lecture course given at the monthly meet- Leot 
ings had the following subjects and speakers: Rev. C. H. 
Tyndall, Ph. D., gave an exposition of wireless telegraphy 
with practical experiments. The "Ladles' Night" had as 
speakers, Chas. Sprague Smith, head of "The People's 
Institute ;" J. Phelps Stokes and Edmund W. Booth. Prof. 
William H. Burr, of the Panama Canal Commissioners 
gave a stereopticon address on the conditions and possibilities 
of the canal. Thos. F. Millard also gave a stereopticon 
address on "Experiences as a War Correspondent with 
General Kuropatkln's Army In Manchuria." Health Com- 
missioner Thos. Darlington used a stereopticon for an 
address on "The Health of New York City and Our Civic 

211 



missionary 



ure 
course 



Workable Plans for Wide-Awake Churches 

Posslbiltles Connected with It." Not many clubs can 
equal this program but it is suggestive. Use all the talent 
in the city. Prominent outsiders will be glad to come in. 
Social The social purity pledge may be presented to the men 
of a Sunday night audience gathered at the close in the 
vestry or lecture room. The women may remain to a meet- 
ing led by some one else while the men are told that the 
pastor has a private message for them in another room. 
Here is the pledge: 

"ILy strength is as the strengto of ten because my 1ie»rt is pure 

^TjlE WjIJTB G;1^0S5 01BLJG?^TJ0^S.3^ 

''°'* ^^' /. To treat all women with respect, and 

endeavor to protect them from wrong and 
degradation, 

2. To endeavor to put down all indecent 
language and coarse jests, 

^. To maintain the law of purity as 
equally binding upon men and women. 

4. To endeavor to spread these principles 
among my companions, and try to help my 
younger brothers, 

5. to use all possible means Jo fulfil the 
Command, "Keep Thyself Pure," 

Name . „ 




How Do You Care for Your Young Men?^ 

The married men or even the young men who live at 
home do not meet as much temptation as the boarder in a 
strange place. He calls out our sympathy and commands 
our thoughtful and prayerful consideration. 
Pastors' The answers given below are some of them general 
but all are pertinent. The question was: How do you 
care for your young men? — "Young Men's Club," (Rev. 
W. M. Smith). ''Bible classes." ''Christian Endeavor 



Winning and Working the Men 

Societies and special attention," (Rev. J. D. Countermine). 
"Young Men's Bible class with its own officers, 175 mem- 
bers," "Cadet Corps for Boys from 12 to 17 years of age," 
(Rev. W. F. Sheridan). "Large Bible class, with a social 
meeting every Thursday evening," (Rev. C. B. McAfee). 
"A chapter of the Brotherhood of St. Andrew," (Rev. B. 
Brewster). "The Epworth League and Men's Club," 
(Rev. C. B. Mitchell). "A well organized athletic and 
literary club for boys from 12 to 21. Junior and Senior 
Brotherhood of St. Andrew and good men's club," (Rev. 
J. H. Hopkins). "Monday Evening Bible class and 
prayer-meeting, conducted by young men themselves," 
(Rev. W. A. Bartlett). "Work them in the Epworth 
League," (Rev. W. P. Odell). "Debating Club, Men's 
Association," (Rev. C. L. Goodell). "Have Young Men's 
Club, meets Saturday Night. We have a room for *indoor- 
ball,' games, etc. Do some literary work. Open night 
once a month. Special young men's Bible class. Work 
the Epworth League," (Rev. P. H. Swift). "By not 
emphasizing the prayer-meeting ideals of religion,'* 
(Brunswick, Maine, pastor). "Provide for them in every 
department of work and recognize them equally with older 
men," (Rev. F. N. Calvin). "We have strong 'Men's 
Club' called 'Men of the Park'" (Rev. Geo. C. Peck). 
"Two large Bible classes organized and a Men's Club," 
(Rev. H. H. Monlger). "Have a man who holds a 
class of 38 in Sunday-school," (Rev. Dillon Bronson). 
"By Special classes In Bible school, by Men's club andl 
gymnasium," (Pawtucket pastor). "Baraca Class, Orches- 
tra class, 48 pieces for men and women. Young men's club 
.(Centurion Band), (Rev. Warren H. Day). "Social 
evenings, club for discussion of life's problems and of vital 
truths of Christianity." (Rev. H. H. Preedy.) "Young men 
are organized In a Baraca Bible-class, which has social meet- 

213 



Workable Plans for Wide- Awake Churches 

fngs during week as well as at the Sunday-school hour, one 
evening of gymnasium practice, two basket-ball teams, one 
of which is in the Church basket-ball league of the city." 
(Rev. J. T. Faris.) "Library, reading-room, gymnasium In 
preparation, organizations, brass band, cadets, men's club. 
We have a splendid literary society for both young men 
and women." (Rev. C. R. Scoville.) ''Tennis court near 
the church and Sunday-school base-ball team." (Rev. Dr. 
Strong.) A number of Churches like St. Mark's, Denver, 
have furnished club-rooms. Even with a splendid Young 
Men's Christian Association organization this Is sometimes 

Fraternal very effectlve. Dr. Houghton, the rector, has also put into 
shape a splendid idea worthy of Imitation. It Is called the 
Fraternal Guild of St. Mark's Church. Let me cull a few 
details. It is composed of members, attendants, or those 
interested In St. Mark's. Initiation fee, two dollars; dues, 
fifty cents per month. One-half of initiation fee, four-fifths 
of dues, and all unspecified contributions are for fund to 
be used as follows : seventy-five dollars, or less, paid at death 
to members; fifty dollars to any one in dire need who is re- 
lated to St. Mark's. When the fund is over one hundred 
dollars, pressing needs of members and others are supplied 
by an authorized committee, who betray no names. 

One other similar club returns all the funds every six 
months, proportionately, and makes a new assessment. The 
Brotherhood of St. Paul, a Methodist organization, has an 
Insurance feature. 

Burial aid The BrIck Presbyterian Church has a mutual benefit 
organization in each one of its downtown mission Churches. 
One Is called "The St. Paul's Society" and the other "The 
Burial Society." The first has ninety-four members, and the 
second one hundred and thirty-six. The same plan Is em- 
ployed in both. They pay fifty dollars on the death of a 
member, raising it by assessing each one fifty cents. 

214 



Winning and Working the Men 



The "Insurance Alliance of the Employed Officers of the y. m. c. a. 
Young Men's Christian Association of America," with.C. B. insurance 
Willis, Milwaukee, Secretary-Treasurer, assesses each mem- 
ber $2.10 at every death. The ten cents pays expenses. 
There are one thousand members, so that this gives two 
thousand dollars to the estate of the deceased. Only a few Other 
of the pastors answered the question. Do you have a fra- Methods 
ternal Aid Society of any sort? The answers are given 
below : 

"No. The penny provident bank takes its place. Many 
depositors. Relief closet is filled with clothing, etc, largely 
new, and distributed to the needy." — Rev. J. T. Faris. 
"Employment Bureau and Benevolent Association." — Rev. 
Charles R. Scoville. "Yes. Business Men's Association, 
which looks after sick, poor, and those out of work." — Rev. 
F. N. Calvin. "No. A Deacons' Fund, supplied by contri- 
butions every communion day, is used by the deacons to re- 
lieve suffering and aid the needy." — Rev. Dr. Strong. 



215 



CHAPTER X. 
Calling and Christian Cordiality. 

The Value of House-visiting 

The study The pastor who shuts himself In his study, exclusively 
shuts himself away from power and efficiency. Lyman 
Abbott, in his life of H. W. Beecher, says: "It has been 
sometimes said that Mr. Beecher was not a scholar. 
Whether he was or no, I will not undertake to say. He 
made no direct use of the Hebrew, and if he had ever known 
the language, had, I am sure, forgotten it. If he wanted 
exegetical information on a passage of the Old Testament, 
he went to his brother. Dr. Edward Beecher, or to his friend. 
Dr. Thomas J. Conant, both of whom were expert Hebra- 
Human Ists." "Mr. Bcechcr got directly from men much which 
most students get Indirectly through printed pages. He was 
pre-eminently a student of nature, man, and the Bible." 
"He made himself a welcome guest In the shop, the office, 
the factory." "He says somewhere, 'There is not a deck 
hand on the ferry-boats, nor a man at Fulton Ferry whom I 
do not know, and who has not helped me!" (p. 109 if.) 

Thorougii- Dr. George K. Morris, in his Boston University lectures 
on Pastoral Theology, said: "Preaching is more than intel- 
lectual exercise. The finest pulpit eloquence can not be 
reached by the study alone. The path to that sublime emi- 
nence leads amid the thoroughfares of men." 

Rev. George A. Miller, In "The Problems of the Town 
Church," says: "Wherever the pulpit has been cut off from 

216 



Calling and Christian Cordiality 



the power of personal contact, its power has withered and 
it has found itself facing empty pews." 

A great many pastors need to be urged to remain In the skiii and 
study. Such men do aimless calling, and, as Ian MacLaren 
says, they "had better be chained to a desk daily, and receive 
no food till they translate one of St. Augustine's sermons." 
It takes large ability properly and helpfully to mingle with 
the people. It will return a rich harvest if rightly utilized. 
Calling must be natural, dictated, and toned by love, char- 
acterized by unselfishness and even-temperedness, and di- 
rected and purposed by a desire to reveal Christ and make 
people better acquainted with Him. To accomplish this the 
minister must be able to say, ''Follow me as I follow Christ." 
If he has this attitude there will be warm-heartedness, a 
dignified jolliness and perennial sunshine beaming from his 
face, adding music to his laughter. Ill-temper, a critical 
attitude, a domineering spirit, often result from overused 
and weary nerves. These traits are, however, Inexcusable 
and will do Incalculable harm. It Is a serious charge to say Sympathei 
truthfully that a minister Is cold, distant, hard to get ac- 
quainted with, or unsympathetic. Such blemishes must be 
rooted out. The Protestant pastor Is honored by being made 
a sort of priest. In Christ's stead he listens to people's 
trials, troubles, and temptations. His very bearing must 
invite confidences. He must be the man that people are glad 
to eend for in all sorts of night-time experiences. Some Too busir 
men insist that they have no time for pastoral visitation. It 
is impossible to know the people and know the hearts with- 
out tlie personal touch which Is found In the homes alone. 
Mr. Beecher, In his Yale lectures on preaching, says con- Beecher 
cerning visiting: "It will enable you to know your parish- 
ioners and fit your sermon to them. It will gain the people's 
confidence." Dr. J. O. Peck, in the "Revival and the Pas- Peck 
tor," says: "The pulpit may be the preacher's throne, but 

217 



Workable Plans for Wide- Awake Churches 

the pastorate is his hearthstone." "In the pulpit you are an 
official, in the home a friend. Greater in influence is the 
friend than the official." Dr. George K. Morris said in his 
Boston University lectures: "Unselfish labor in building up 
wounded hearts and wiping tears away kindles a Divine 
fire in his heart and adds persuasiveness to his tongue." 

Cadmao Rcv. S. Parks Cadman, D. D., pastor of Central Congre- 
gational Church, Brooklyn, one of the largest Churches in 
the country, says: "In two and a half years five hundred 
members have been added to my Church, the result chiefly 
of pastoral visitation from house to house, of systematic ap- 
peal to the Bible-school, and of constant preaching on the 
Ian Mac- very essence of the Gospel." Ian MacLaren, in "The Cure 
of Souls," says: "If the preacher be ill there are paragraphs 
in the newspapers; if the pastor^ there is concern in humble 
The caller homes." Visiting will save one from fanaticism, profes- 
sional voice and manner eccentricities, egotism, coldness, 
stiffness, and timidity. Of course the caller will draw peo- 
ple out, listen patiently, and not talk about himself. He 
will usually appear and act more naturally, as well as avoid 
unusual attention to himself and the people visited, if he 

Natural wear an ordinary business suit. Some men in common con- 
versation gesticulate wildly, and talk as though addressing 
an audience of five hundred people gathered out of doors. 
The "holy" tone and face disgust the ordinary man. A 

Prayer humau interest in common affairs wins standing room. Gen- 
eral cheerfulness, optimism, and a happy bearing are often 
more needed than a Scripture quotation or a conversation 
about the "soul." Nevertheless we, as pastors, pray too 
little in the homes. A prayer backed by a holy life leaves 

Gossip a perfume behind, not soon dispelled. Gossip should have 

no more place in conversation than flies in honey. Shame 

on the minister who, in any place or at any time, dare tell 

Impartiality a malodorous story! Impartiality is absolutely necessary. 

218 



Calling and Christian Cordiality 



It Is unwise to call much at one place. It is exceedingly 
dangerous to have any "intimate" friends in a Church. The 
sick, the poor, the shut-in, the spiritually weak require most 
attention. The wealthy and widely-known will gladly wel- 
come religious conversation and prayer in their homes. Neat- cleanliness 
ness in body and dress is an essential. It is poor economy 
to go about in shabby clothes. A clean, tastefully dressed 
person rests and refreshes one. It upsets one to see the 
grease-spotted coat, the soiled or frayed collar, the care- 
lessly put or faded tie, the red-black shoes, and the knee- 
bagging trousers. Cleanliness covers a multitude of faults. 

The lazy pastor commands no respect. He is cheap, and Exhausting 
is treated as all cheap things. He alone talks about resting 
by visiting. The right kind of calling, the sort that fits 
itself to the different people and their whims and conditions, 
is hard work. Ian MacLaren says: "With the true pastor 
visiting Is a spiritual labor. Intense and arduous, beside 
which reading and study are light and easy. When he has 
been with ten families and done his best by each, he comes 
home trembling in his very limbs and worn-out In soul." 

The Problem of Calling 

The question of calling is a big one with the modern Pastors' 
pastor with his multitudinous duties. The replies to the 
following question are interesting. "Do you succeed In doing 
much pastoral work?" Rev. W. F. Sheridan: "Reach 
membership about twice each year." Rev. M. P. Boj^nton: 
**7viy aim Is to make at least sixty a week." Rev. C. L. 
Goodell: "About twelve hundred a year." Rev. W. P. 
Odell: "About one thousand a year." Rev. F. T. Rouse: 
"Alas! no; try to get around to seven hundred families once 
a year, but fail." Rev. John Faville: "Tr^^ to go each day 
where I am most needed." Rev. W. A. Bartlett: "Try to 
go where there Is sickness and other special, urgent calls. 

219 



Workable Plans for Wide-Awake Churches 

Of late years I have not been able to make a systematic visi- 
tation." Rev. J. W. Brougher: "I call every afternoon ex- 
cept Saturday." Rev. W. B. Hinson: ''One thousand visits 
a year. I make every visit a personal one, read and pray. 
One such equals many ordinary calls." Rev. A. C. Dixon: 
**I do very little pastoral visiting. It is done by three asso- 
ciate pastors, who give all their time to the work." Rev. 
Naptali Luccock: '*I try to do the imperative things, and let 
others get done of themselves. I try to make head and heels 
help each other." Rev. W. M. Smith: ''Call once a year 
at least on everybody." Rev. J. D. Countermine: "About 
twelve hundred a year. Generally pray in the home. It is 
the gospel way of w^inning souls, and It works." Rev. 
Courtlandt Myers: "Obliged to do so or lose our grip. 
Letter writing (personal, not v^^holesale) Is one of the best 
next to a call." He might add that the telephone Is also 
a valuable assistant. Rev. P. H. Swift: "I plan to visit 
every home once a year. Go often when they are sick or In 
trouble. The custom of calling upon a large number of 
members on New- Year's Day with greetings is growing." 
Pawtucket, R. I., Pastor: "I do not try to do much more 
than visit the sick, newcomers, afflicted, shut-ins, and in- 
quirers." Rev. F. E. R. Miller: "No. Only among sick, 
sorrowful, needy, and inquirers." Rev. C. L. Kloss: "No. 
Call on sick and where I am invited. Deaconess responsible 
for systematic." Rev. C. R. Scovllle: "No. Have pastoral 
helper at it all the time, and do what I can." Minneapolis 
Pastor: "Call on the sick and try to make the rounds of the 
Church at least once a year." Rev. W. H. Day: "I make 
one hundred calls a month usually. I have twelve deacon- 
esses and twelve deacons on a parish committee, who help 
on the pastoral work. They made, perhaps, two hundred 
and fifty calls last month." Rev. George C. Peck: "We 
have fourteen hundred members. I made twenty-five hun- 

220 



Calling and Christian Cordiality 



dred calls last year. Two complete rounds of the parish." 
Rev. J. M. Philputt: "We believe in pastoral work. A 
house-going minister makes a Church-going people. We 
make about two hundred calls a month, and our member- 
ship is eleven hundred." Rev. R. L. Thrapp: "I see new 
members and sick only." Dr. Quayle, of St. James Church, 
Chicago, calls on each member four times a year, but re- 
mains only a couple of moments, and prays only when re- 
quested. Edward Judson, in "The Institutional Church," 
emphasizes the need of a well advertised office hour, when 
people can call. 

St. John's Episcopal Church, Denver, recently presented Automobile 
its rector, Dean Hart, with an automobile as an anniversary 
present. What a splendid thing for a thousand Churches 
to imitate! So much time and strength could be saved by 
using one. 

Rev. J. W. Lee, D. D., pastor of Trinity Church, At-Post-office 
lanta, Ga., writes in a personal letter: 

"I have been a money raiser, a student, and a diligent 
pastor. I never leave my Church for a long trip to Europe 
or to Palestine or anywhere else without keeping in touch 
with my people by correspondence. I make a great deal 
of use of Uncle Sam's Post-office Department. This tells . 
always. A preacher can run a Church by writing letters 
and preaching on Sunday first-class sermons. He should 
keep up with the times, read science, literature, philosophy, 
theology, and, above all, do a little thinking on his own 
account. To be a successful pastor one must be natural, 
and if he has plans he must not let the public hear the ma- 
chinery rattle. A pastor full of a whole lot of little de- 
vices for running a Church makes the ordinary Church-goer 
weary. Hence I am not a good person to get plans from. 
The personality of a preacher is the whole secret of success. 
The plans must flow in his blood." 

221 



Workable Plans for Wide- Awake Churches 

Calling Dr. James Chalmers received in one year at Toledo, 
Ohio, three hundred members, and two hundred and thir- 
teen the first three months at Elgin, 111. He claims that 
most Churches are over-organized. He divides all male 
Church members into a "Men's Club," and all women into 
a "Woman's Guild." The city was divisioned into a dozen 
sections for the men and for the women, with a chairman 
and secretary for each section. Each group looks after the 
neighborhood sick and poor, conducts cottage prayer-meet- 
ings, and canvasses for Church members and attendants. 
Dr. Chalmers endeavors to get each person to pledge to give 
two hours a week to Church work, for the purpose of in- 
creasing Church attendance and membership. This puts 
every one at work. Rev. Monroe Markley, of Denver, 
Centurion employs 2L similar plan very effectively. Rev. Courtlandt 
Myers has his membership divided into companies of one 
hundred, in charge of a centurion, who divides them into 
companies of ten. They report on these names as to attend- 
ance at Church and Bible-school, and gather other facts. 
Divisions The Lexington Avenue Baptist Church, of Chicago, 
prints a map of the neighborhood cut into six divisions, with 
a different colored card for each. The pastor announces 
each Sunday the division he will visit that week. 

Assistants Rev. W. A. Bartlett thus describes his calling helpers: 
"The women members gather in an organization called the 
^'Pastor's Assistants," whose purpose is to "get one or more 
into the Church and congregation, and to respond as far as 
possible to calls of the pastor for special work." 

Card index It is impossiblc to keep a city calling list corrected in a 
book or "Record." A card catalogue is much more con- 
venient. The address can be quickly changed six or eight 
times. A Neighborhood card catalogue is also a time-saver. 
When one moves into a new locality, it is only necessary to 
remove the card to that district in the box. It will pay to 

222 



Calling and Christian Cordiality 



adopt some of the "follow-up" systems of publishing-houses 
and others depending upon a mail business. This will en- 
able one to "keep after" possible Church members. 

Dr. Banks locates himself in the entry of the Church church 
fifteen minutes before the hour for service, and greets every 
one as they come in. He there gets names of people who are 
not members, and follows them up tirelessly by personal calls. 
In his first ten weeks as pastor of Trinity Church, Denver, 
he took in seventy-four on probation and one hundred and 
fourteen by letter. Not every^ one can thus give themselves 
out before the service. The doctor claims that his pre-service 
greeting gives him a grip on individuals that enables him 
to move them later. 

It is the author's custom to be at the main exit door strangers' 
before any one gets out after the benediction. Two or three ^ 
instructed young men are just outside the door. As stran- . 

gers are greeted they are asked, "Do you live near us?" or 
some similar question. If this opens the way, the request is 
made for their address, and one of the young men is called 
up to take it. He writes the name, street number, and 
Church relation or attitude if it can be politely discovered. 
These names are then handed to the deaconess, who calls 
and reports to the pastor any additional facts, and he follows 
up the promising cases. When it is discovered that there is church 
a letter "back East," a book is confidently taken from ^he"'^"*'*^* 
pocket, in which he writes the home Church address with 
the purpose of sending for the certificate, and permission is 
seldom withheld. 

It is well to be social and happy, but the supreme Spiritual 
business is soul help, and an effort to accomplish this 
should never be forgotten. The pastor must be alert 
for spiritual conversation every moment. It is his chief 
business, as is life insurance of some agents. Calling can Proportioned 
not be mechanical. Some people need three visits to another's 

223 



Workable Plans for Wide-Awake Churches 

one. Intuition, warmed by a real love for the people, will 
often help to decide when a call is necessary. No one should 
be neglected. Some system must be devised with a large 
membership, whereby the pastor can know accurately when 
each call was made. 
Name cards THnity Methodist Church, Denver, has an abundance of 
cards in the pews with the following on them : 

Please write on this card name and address of persons you may 
know who are friends or adherents of Trinity Church, but who are 
not members. 

Name. Address. 



, In this way many names are secured, and can be followed up 

by an energetic pastor. Folk will write the names of ftiends 
in whom they are interested when it can not be discovered 
Streets who gave them, when they would not otherwise do so. It 
often surprises one how cordially strangers accept a personal 
invitation to a Church service. 
Introduction Ouc pastor gets results by giving his calling cards to men 
on the streets, with a hearty word of welcome. 

The following form, duly signed, is used by one alert 
pastor : 

A CORDIAL WELCOME. 
To the Ushers: 

This card indicates that I have given the hearer a special invi- 
tation to attend the services of the Church. Will you kindly assist 
the person ivho presents it in finding a pleasant sitting, and assist 
me in extending a cordial ivelcome? 



Timid Timidity and backwardness ought to be conquered as 
. any other bad habit, when it keeps one from leading the way 
in this close touch work. 

224 



Calling and Christian Cordiality 



Entertainments and Sociability 

There is too great fear of Church socials and entertain- Suppiam 

Til 1 '^^ ^°'" 

ments in some quarters. Jesus drove the money-changers bidden 
out of the temple because they were making ''personal^' 
profit. On the other hand, His first miracle was performed 
at the greatest social event among the Jews. We may be 
too much afraid of injuring the sanctity of the Church. 
Spirituality is very close to sociability. "Do n't" fails to 
restrain when a supplanting enjoyment succeeds. Once 
young people were allowed to **sow wild oats." Now they 
are directed in their fun and given a social life by the 
Church. This is a promising sign for future victories. 

Even though young people's organizations should ''die," 
their work in arousing the Church to the care of the youth 
will be increasingly ielt. The question asked the pastors Pastors 
on this subject was, "How do you encourage sociability?" sociability 
Rev. Naptali Luccock: "Our various societies arrange socials 
and entertainments at Church and in homes, and round up 
absentees systematically." Rev. W. B. Hinson: "Have it 
evidenced at close of every service. Systematic visitation 
by ladies of the Church, whereby every lady receives four 
calls every month." Rev. W. P. Odell: "Church and 
League socials, one every two weeks." Rev. F. T. Rouse: 
"Monthly ten-cent teas. Annual club banquet." Rev. John 
Faville: "We have an 'After Communion' social once in two 
months; also four meetings with banquet and speaker during 
the winter." Rev. W. A. Bartlett: "The Ladies' Benev- 
olent Society holds bimonthly lunches." Rev. J. W. 
Brougher: "Numerous socials. Once a quarter a big Church 
social to welcome new members." Rev. J. H. Hopkins: 
*' Monthly meetings of our Men's Club. Monthly lecture 
course or frequent receptions. Young people's and children's 
parties. Occasional pay entertainments. Weekly guild 
meetings of various sorts," Rev. C. B. Mitchell: "Speak of 
15 225 



Workable Plans for Wide-Awake Churches 

it at the close of every service." Rev. A. C. Dixon: "We 
have about three socials a month, one including the w^hok 
Church, and the others different departments." Rev. Dr. 
Thomas: *'The rectory is the center." Rev. Benjamin 
Brew^ster: "Monthly teas by the Woman's Guild." Rev. 
M. P. Boynton : "I have held for seven years what has been 
called a 'monthly open-house,' or pastor's monthly reception. 
A Social Union for the Sunday-school workers. A monthly 
sociable for the young people. Have children's parties." 
Rev. Courtlandt Myers: "Every service is emphasized. The 
pastors set the example vigorously." Rev. W. M. Smith : 
"Preaching on It. Socials frequently." Rev. P. H. Swift: 
"Try to have every Sunday-school class hold a social once 
a month. One general social a month under the direction 
of a central social committee, composed of representatives 
of every society In the Church." Rev. Dillon Bronson: 
"Monthly socials, supper, and spicy programs." Rev. George 
C. Peck: "We have suppers and socials, and take all means 
of emphasizing the value of sociability." Rev. C. L. Kloss: 
"Through ushers and a special welcome committee at Sun- 
day services. Socials once a month ; reception to new- 
comers." Rev. W. H. Day: "Women have a great all-day 
meeting once a month, missionary and Church work session." 
Rev. George P. Eckman: "Socials and entertainments given 
by Epworth League, Men's Club, Book Club, and Sunday- 
school." Rev. Charles R. ScovIUe: "Socials, Sunday-school 
class parties. Church at Home occasionally, old members re- 
ception for new ones," etc. Rev. W. H. Day: "We be- 
lieve in the Church kitchen. We call all sorts of people 
together for lunch at downtown restaurants." Rev. H. H. 
Moniger: "Church suppers and socials once a month. A 
large visiting committee, hundreds of letters by the pastor 
suggesting calls on nev/ members." Rev. J. M. Philputt: 
"We have a calling league of about forty women, who make 

226 



Calling and Christian Cordiality 



a point of calling on all new people, and also seek to extend 
the spirit of sociability among the regular members." Rev. 
Frank E. R. Miller: ''Have a list of entertaining homes, 
and assign strangers to certain hosts and hostesses." Minne- 
apolis Pastor: "We have different persons scattered through 
the audience to look after strangers. Hold numerous social 
and semi-social functions." Rev. Dr. Strong: "The Church 
field is divided into eight districts, with one deacon and 
one deaconess assigned to each district, whose duty is to call 
on the newcomers, and on others to some extent." 

Every Church should have a general social gathering at Monthly 
least once a month. Many people have no other social life 
than that coming to them in the Church. Newcomers to 
a town or city may here form their first friendships, and so 
relate their joy-life to religion, as well as be able to secure 
the best sort of associations. It is neither fair nor wise to Executive 
ask one organization to bear the work and expense of these "'"""" 
monthly gatherings. Ask each organization in the Church 
to appoint a representative on an Executive Entertainment 
Committee. These delegates could then arrange a series 
of socials, and assign an evening to every organization. The illustrative 
different societies could often relate their work to their enter- 
tainment. For example, the Woman's Foreign Missionary 
Society could give a reception to Mr. and Mrs. Uncle Sam, 
described in another chapter in this book. The Men's Club 
might arrange a Colonial Reception, the members especially 
planning to come dressed in Colonial costume — knee trousers, 
wig, etc. The Ladies' Aid might request each person to 
bring a handkerchief or a towel, while the Woman's Home 
Missionary Society could gather good clothing to send away . 
in one df their "frontier boxes." The Young People's Or- 
ganization could make a feature of a few old-fashioned 
games in which all would be interested. The Sunday-school 
Board could arrange a progressive conversational circle to 

227 



Workable Plans for Wide- Awake Churches 

discuss the work and interests of the local school. Every 
organization would in this way have something new and 
novel. The Executive Committee should agree on dates and 
features. 

Officers' At least once a year it is wise for the officers of all the 
Church organizations to gather around a table at a meal 
to discuss their different plans and the inter-relation of their 
work. This will insure harmonious co-operation, and often 
bring out new plans as well as spur up the sleepy to make 
their society keep up with the others. The fall of the year 
is the best time to hold it. The aforementioned committee 
would be a good group to make all arrangements. 

Cottage Cottage prayer-meetings accomplish otherwise impossible 
tasks. Have a series led by laymen — all on the same even- 
ing. The pastor might spend fifteen minutes at three or 
four by using a buggy. Apportion one for different sections 
each night of one week, to be led by the pastor. Close each 
with light refreshments and a social time. It is wise to close 
many socials with a word of prayer. It ought to be as nat- 
ural to close a neighborhood prayer-meeting with a social. 
Open the fall work in this way. Let the district visiting 
committee plan it. 

Invitation Here is an invitation used at a series held preceding thtf 
annual revival meetings : 

You are Invited to a 

Cottage Prayer Meeting and Bible Reading, 

Led by Christian F. Reisner, 

Pastor Grace Methodist Episcopal Church, 

At my house at 

No at 

This meeting is preparatory to a two weeks' series of revival 
meetings at the Church (corner S. 14th and W. 13th), beginning 
January 14th. Dr. E. T. Cassell, noted author of music, and a large 
chorus will assist the pastor. 

228 



Calling and Christian Cordiality 



Once a year a formal reception to the members of the Parsonage 
Church by the pastor and his wife at the parsonage will 
promote cordial feelings and aid the people to get acquainted. 
Cards containlqg the following words were sent to every 
member : 

At Home 

Mr. and Mrs. Christian Fichthorn Reisner 

Tuesday Evening j October eleventh 

nineteen hundred and four 

7 to 8 o'clock 

1257 S. 14th Street 
Denver, Colo. 

The people were distributed into three different sections. 
The old people from seven to eight P. M., the middle-agd 
from eight to nine, and the young people from nine to ten 
o'clock. 

The annual roll-call, to be answered by a Scripture An 
verse or testimony, is useful. A membership supper and 
social, to which folks are admitted only by ticket, often en- 
hances the value of Church enrollment and enforces the 
family feeling and atmosphere. Give the new members a 
reception, with the official members as hosts and hostesses. 
Send a badge of honor and designation to be worn by guests. 
Give every one a little book and a lead pencil for them to 
use in getting the signatures of the others in the room. This 
breaks the Ice, and by discovering the former homes of people 
common Interests are often uncovered. 

Help the different organizations Invent new and starch- inventing 
melting socials. Recently Grace Church celebrated Wash- 
ington's Birthday with forty young people In costume. An- 
other time the Primary Department gave a "Mrs. WIggs of 
the Cabbage Patch" social. Keep something going on. If 
busy In Church, people will have no time or desire for harm- 
ful associations. 

229 



Annual 
roll-call 



Workable Plans for Wide-Awake Churches 



Letters and Thc post-officc should bc uscd frccly. Many times an 
invitation to a social will catch one losing interest and heart. 
Simple refreshments are inexpensive and are universal re- 
serve banishers. 

Special Special services in the Church that arouse and interest 
different classes will bring returns in sociability and support. 
Everybody has some point of contact where the Church's 
"Supper" electricity may be applied to enliven or draw them. Criticise 
and condemn the old-fashioned Church supper as much and 
more than it deserves, the fact remains that many people 
have been won or held to the Church by "working for the 
Church" in waiting on table, washing dishes, or "cooking 
things." This sort of service delights and exactly fits some 

Money folk. There is, therefore, a question whether the wholesale 
condemnation of the custom of "making money" for the 
Chuch by socials, etc., is wise. The truth is that many 
Church buildings would have been impossible without the 
five thousand dollars or five hundred dollars which the 
Ladies' Aid made and turned in. Only eternity can reveal 
how many have enlisted in Christ's service as a result of an 
interest created by such means. All hail and praise to the 
hard-working, cheerful-hearted, unselfish folk who work 
through their various organizations to make money for the 
Church ! 

Special Occasions 

Platform All special services need not be held through the week. 
Many that utilize a worship hour will awaken new interest 
in hearts. The following will illustrate: Four or five lead- 
ing men put up to talk five or seven minutes each on Chris- 
tian giving, or Church finances, will deliver more effective 
messages than many sermons by the pastor. Use the same 
plan for the presentation of missions, the interests of the 
denominational college or hospital. Make a strong layman 
chairman of the meetings, as they do in England. Give the 

230 



Calling and Christian Cordiality 



important committees charge of a service, at long intervals. 
Print short declarations of selected members on the various 
subjects presented and circulate them, thus offering a local 
printed symposium Collect a iew foreign * 'testimonies" 
to be added. These will strike in. 

Try an Old Folks' Service. Decorate with autumn oid biks 
leaves. Put an old-fashioned fireplace on the platform. 
Take out a few pews and set rocking chairs in their place. 
Present each one over sixty or sixty-five with a rose, or a 
tasty badge. Send conveyances for the aged who will come. 
Sing old hymns. Line them out. Invite an aged minister 
to preach, or yourself use the subject of Heaven, their youth 
land. Ask how many in the audience are related to active, 
retired, or deceased ministers. Take the collection for min- 
isterial veterans. The service may be held at the regular 
morning hour, or a special afternoon hour may be selected. 

Many pastors announce a regular "evening at home." Home 
Rev. M. P. Boynton sends out cards to a few older members 
and a few new ones, and in this way gets them acquainted. 
The pastor's wife may frequently receive the ladies in the 
afternoon, giving an informal reception. The pastor may 
do the same with the men some evening, by hiring a couple 
of colored men servants and excusing the "women folk" 
around the house. 

Be enthusiastically social yourself. Get a good motto 
for the Church, and by repeating it often make it serve as a 
reminder. Grace Church, Denver, has "A Homelike 
Church." Praise the people a little and hold up a standard 
or reputation. Preach, practice, push it. 



231 



CHAPTER XL 
Revival Efforts Bring Results. 

The Possibility of a Revival 

Common The spccIal meeting season Is limited to no Church. 
All hold them. They are called Lenten Services, missions, 
evangelistic meetings, and revivals. While the Holy Spirit 
alone does the v^ork, God as certainly honors the right and 
persistent efforts of the spiritual husbandman, as He does 
those of the agricultural. 
Torrey R. A. Torrey recently declared that any one v^^llllng to 
pay the price In prayer and effort could have a revival. 
Finney Charlcs G. Finney wrote : 'The connection betv^^een the 
right use of means for a revival and a revival Is as philo- 
sophically sure as between the right use of means to raise 
Upham grain and a crop of wheat." Dr. S. F. Upham once said: 
*'We can not believe that the Holy Ghost acts arbitrarily 
In originating revivals any more that He does In regenerating 
a soul. Conversion has its laws. It Is preceded by repent- 
ance and faith; so revivals have their laws, not always cog- 
Pecknizable by us, but usually so." Rev. J. O. Peck, In his **Re- 
vival and the Pastor," quotes these two, and adds: ''There- 
fore preparation for a revival is but an Intelligent adjustment 
of well-known and Divinely-sanctioned agencies to the ends 
Ch;.pman which are sought." Dr. J. Wilbvir Chapman says: "I never 
had a revival under my ministry without laboring for it 
and expecting it." 

Evangelists have done and are doing tremendous work 
232 



Revival EflForts Bring Results 



for the kingdom. They should not be minimized. Once Pastors and 
the pastor, bankrupt either In health or brains and some- 
times in morals, entered this field, but that day is going. 
Only the best now find place and work. And yet ordinarily 
pastors should seldom engage one. It breeds laziness, shifts 
responsibility, and often causes harm in a dozen ways by the 
reaction. Grow and succeed by the determination to be- 
come a partner with God in a real revival service. Pray and 
work yourself red hot with love and zeal, and others will be 
infected. 

Personal Preparation for the Pastor 

The pastor determined to have a revival must have per- Prayer, 
sonal preparation. Rev. H. C. Fish asks some questions : industry 
"Do we know a prayerfulness like that of Luther, who once 
said : 'I have so much business to do to-day that I shall not 
be able to get through it with less than three hours of 
prayer.' It is John Angell James who said : *We are weak in 
the pulpit because weak in the closet.' " Again : "Do we 
know a tireless industry like that of Whitefield ? ... or like 
that of Wesley? Do we know an engrossment in the Mas- 
ter's business like that of Brainerd, who could say of him- 
self on more than one occasion: *I cared not where or how 
I lived or what hardships I went through, so I could but 
gain souls to Christ.' Do we know a travail of soul for 
the ungodly like Paul? Do we know a singleness of pur- 
pose like that to which the sainted Brown of Haddington 
exhorted his sons ? *0 labor, labor to win souls to Christ !' "* 

Rev. S. Parks Cadman, D. D., gives the following ad- Power as 
vice: "Men and brethren, let us seek the new life for which *°^''^"^^'^ ' 
we have been apprehended by our Lord. . . . Once in 
the continual presence of God's purpose and man's need, 
methods will rapidly accrue. ... In every case, save 
the solitary exceptions which prove the validity of the rule, 



* Outline Sermons and Plans for Evangelistic Work, p. 80. 



Workable Plans for Wide-Awake Churches 

let the pastor be his own evangelist. Do you say: 'I have 
no adaptation for the work?' Then in the name of all un- 
utterably holy, great, and terrible truths, go in, 'horse, foot, 
and dragoons,' without adaptation! As you go, you shall 
most certainly be fitted to plead Christ's brief in any court." 
Hugh Price On graduating from Oxford University, Hugh Price 

ambhion Hughes, in common with his classmates, discounted evangel- 
ism, and was determined to be a literary preacher. A score 
of persons were converted at a service at Dover, his first 
charge, and his testimony concerning that event is as fol- 
lows: "The result of that sermon changed my whole career. 
I was called upon to decide whether I would follow my lit- 
erary ambitions or seek the salvation of souls. But I had 
tasted a new joy, and I chose the salvation of men. It was 
like turning the switch on a railway. It sent me on the 
evangelistic line, and I have been running on it ever since.'* 
The world knows the result. 

Dawson Rev. W. J. Dawson, D. D., who has recently lo- 
ev^ngeiis" cated in America to do evangelistic work, relates his 
transformation in his book, ''The Evangelistic Awaken- 
ing." He says: "During the heart-searching of a sum- 
mer's vacation, after ten years of prosperity as pastor of 
a large London Church, I was so unsettled and dissatis- 
fied as to question the expediency of preaching any longer. 
The conviction settled that I dare not leave the Christian 
ministry and still I was not satisfied. In March, 1903, 
I read a paper before the English National Free Church 
Council. This was the first regular session I had attended. 
Dr. Horton preached a sermon which profoundly moved 
me. The voice of confidence and conquest was in the air. 

Midnight The climax came in the middle of the week, when a mid- 

™^^""^ night meeting was arranged. On that memorable night 
the members of the Council, a thousand strong, marched 
through the streets of Brighton, gathering in the- 

234 



Revival Efforts Bring Results 



waifs and wastrels of the streets. . . . The great dome was 
packed with outcast sinners. Gipsy Smith gave the ad- Gipsy 
dress. I saw what I had not seen since I was a boy in 
Cornwall — scores of men and women rising for prayers, 
and pouring into an extemporized inquiry-room to seek 
instant deliverance from their sins. And I then knew what 
w^as the missing element in my own ministry, what was 
the vital deficiency in my own Church; it was evangelistic 
fervor, the spirit of the Christian propaganda." Every one 
knows the result. Dr. Dawson went home to gather his 
wealthy and cultured membership for work among the 
world's outcasts, getting them to march the streets at mid- 
night and to follow a brass band Sunday afternoon to 
draw men into a meeting. The Church became a steady 
rescue-station. He makes this final declaration: *'But the Every min- 
question in my mind is this: 'Is the gift of the evangelist evangelist 
so unique that it can not be expected in the average min- 
ister?' I can not admit that it is. The power of the 
evangelist usually lies not so much in superiority of gifts 
as in superior earnestness manifesting itself in great direct- 
ness of appeal and a positive belief in immediate results." 

Rev. J. O. Peck, who, as a pastor carrying on meet- God use all 
ings without outside help, had as high as fifteen hundred 
conversions and averaged three hundred a year, speaks with 
authority. He says: "God is without partiality. He will 
honor one man's ministry with His blessing as truly as that 
of another. If a pastor wants evangelistic power. He will 
give it."* Again Dr. Peck says: ''Should I seek popularity. Popularity 
or give up all to be a soul-winner ? The conflict ended with winn'ing C 
an entire surrender to the work of soul-saving. At once 
an Intense passion for souls possessed and swayed me. It has 
never changed. "f But his soul-saving success was not easily 



* Revival and the Pastor, p. 42. 
flbid., p. 61. 



235 



Workable Plans for Wide-Awake Churches 

Determina- attained. Again he writes: ''No one ever began the min- 
'°" Istry more diffident, more easily embarrassed, more afraid to 
speak to persons, or more Ignorant of the way to do It, 
than the writer. I often became so confused that neither 
the people nor I myself could make any sense out of what 
I was saying. ... At last, I determined, by the help of 
God, to be a soul-saving pastor. It cost me ten years' hard 
work before I began to understand some of the methods 
Sufficient of success." "This conviction has solidified into purpose and 
faith. The pastor and local Church are sufficient for pro- 
ducing a revival under the assured power of the Holy 
Ghost. We dare not believe less."* 

The desired goal has much to do with results and equip- 
ments. Rev. W. F. Sheridan, In his book, "The Sunday 
Night Service," says: "When the author entered the min- 
istry, a consecrated and talented Christian woman, a life- 
long friend, and herself an evangelist of unusual power — 
Mrs. L. O. Robinson, of Indianapolis, Ind. — said: 'My 
boy, always cast the net. Expect God to give you results 
and He will do it.' . . . From that time until the present, 
with occasional exceptions, he has made an appeal to the 
unsaved for Immediate decision at the Sunday night service. 
In at least three-fourths of the Sunday evenings there have 
been requests for prayer, and in nearly half of these cases 
there have been conversions." f 
Heart- J. Wllbur Chapman, In his book, "Revivals and Mis- 
program slons," quotes Dr. Newell's method of personal preparation 
for a revival: "I had seen so many revivals averted by 
the condition of pastors that I devoted the entire week of 
prayer to a preparation of my own heart and life. . . . On 
Monday I considered the infinitely holy character of God, 
By this stupendous theme my soul was greatly awed. On 



* Revival and the Pastor, p. 109 f 

■)■ The Sunday Night Service, p. 140 f. 

236 



Revival Efforts Bring Results 



Tuesday I considered my own particular sins. . . . 'What 
have you lacked in love, trust, spirituality, improvement of 
time, and toil for the lost?' 'What of your pride, ambition, 
self-seeking?' On Wednesday I considered God's kindness 
to me, my family, and my Church. ... I was amazed at 
my own unthankfulness. . . . On Thursday my questions 
were: 'Why do you want a revival of religion? Is it 
chiefly to build up one man or one Church, to make your 
people more genial and loving? Or are you seeking first 
of all to honor Jesus in the salvation of the perishing? 
Have you been asking for things which you do not expect 
to receive and which you make slight efforts to secure?* 
On Friday I was prepared as never before to look to Jesus."* 
Is it any wonder that, after this soul culture, he was filled 
with joy, purpose, light, and power? 

Rev. James Mudge gives these essentials : "Think much Essentials 
of Jesus. Think much of God. Think much of men. 
Think much of the man. Pray. Go. Hold on."t 

Dr. Chapman lists the following as helps: "A profound Faith, vision, 
belief in the Holy Ghost, and the conviction that He is 
willing and waits to do His part in the conversion of sin- 
ners and the quickening of the Church." "An unshaken 
belief in prayer." "Som.e conception of the lost condition 
of men." "Personal effort . . . put forth to reach the un- 
saved." There must be heart-culture and warmth to meet 
these conditions. A deep conviction of the need and the 
possibility of a revival rooted in the heart will melt much 
ice of discouragement. 

Quickening Methods 

Dr. H. C. Fish, writing in 1874 ("Hand Book of Re- 
vivals"), did not know of the more absorbing and religiously recoScd 
listless life of to-day. He was a little afraid of revival 

'■'Revivals and Missions, p ii6f 

t Outline Sermons and Plans for Evangelistic Work, p. 59. 



Workable Plans for Wide-Awake Churches 



plans, and yet, after careful consideration, declared that 
an awakening was not possible without them, and could be 

Separation, assured by the use of the right ones. He quotes Rev. 
PreaXng Francis Wayland as describing the means which brought 
about the revival of 1832 as follows: "On the part of the 
Church putting away all known sin." "Setting apart sea- 
sons of fasting and prayer and humiliation, both individ- 
ually and collectively, has very commonly been attended 
with a blessing. Those seasons which have been followed by 
most powerful revivals have been marked by unusual con- 
fession of sin, deep humility, earnest longing for the salva- 
tion of others." "The more frequent and more faithful 
preaching of the Gospel has been generally followed by 
increase of religious attention in a congregation, meetings 
for conference or for exhortation and prayer, by lay brethren, 
have been very common, and have been very useful." 
Nearly a century ago definite means were employed. 

Chapman on Di". Chapman, while warning against dependence upon 
methods instead of Divine power, says: "God has seemed, 
especially in these latter days, to honor the methods oi men 
and machinery, as it has been called by some, and indeed, 
some of the greatest revivals in the past ten years have come 
as the result of wise planning and the adoption of methods 
which have certainly not been displeasing to God." No 
greater work in recent years has been done in this country 
than that done by Dr. Chapman, and he invariably lays 
careful plans and works them. 
Detailed A. J. Merchant answers the question, "Before the Re- 
vival, What?" as follows: "i. A re-endowed minister bap- 
tized with the Holy Ghost. 2. The Official Board called 
together to plan and pray. 3. A preparatory course of 
sermons, the law, and the Gospel. 4. The faith of the 
people encouraged by accounts of extensive revivals. 5. 
The Church called to secret prayer for a return of Pente- 

238 



activities 



Revival Efforts Bring Results 



cost, waiting, interceding, importuning. 6. A thorough 
canvass of the congregation, prayer in houses, shops visited."* 

Dr. Chapman sends a letter to the pastors w^here he Preparatory 

. . . . . advice 

expects to come for a union meetmg, contammg, among 
other things, the following: "May I not count on you for 
the most thorough preparation of your own people? Work 
as if everything depended on you. In addition to the union 
preparation of the people, may I suggest, out of my own 
experience (and he was greatly successful as an evangelistic 
pastor) the wisdom of your having a month of prepara- 
tion in your own Church, using your Sunday evening 
services and your prayer-meeting addresses for this end? 
For the former take such subjects as these: i. Confessing Topics to 
sin. 2. Personal consecration. 3. Our responsibility for the *'°°^' *' 
unsaved. 4. What must I do to be saved? For the latter 
take such as these: i. Revivals In history. 2. How may 
we promote a revival? 3. Hindrances to a revival. 4. 
Are we ready ?"t 

It Is usually well to hold the special services every year Time of 
at about the same time. Sometimes the iron will show ^^^ 
that it is red hot at an unexpected time; then strike. Dr. 
Peck usually began his meetings on New Year's-day, but 
once had a revival break out In May, one month after coming 
to a new charge. 

Rev. J. A. Ward, while pastor of St. Paul's Methodist Divide the 
Church, Cedar Rapids, Iowa, prepared a successful revival "^"^ 
meeting as follows: The membership w^as divided Into four 
equal groups by going down the alphabetical list. After a 
stirring sermon, the members were asked to remain, and then 
divided Into four sections In different parts of the church. 
Each leader then told his group the week night they would 
be responsible for the services. The names of the absentees 



* Outline Sermons and Plans for Evangelistic Work, p. 105. 
I Revivals and Missions, p. 84. 

239 



Workable Plans for Wide-Awake Churches 

were read, and some one agreed to see each of them. The 
different groups, with their respective leaders, were to have 
charge of the first half hour on successive evenings. This 
plan placed definite responsibility on every member. They 
invited unconverted ones on their night. The leaders be- 
came enthusiastic workers, developing unexpected ability. 
Friendly rivalry sprang up between the different divisions. 
The converts were readily taken up by an active member- 
ship. Friday night was given over to the Sunday-school.* 
Workihg the This plan is capable of careful and wide-reaching use- 
fulness for a city Church. A committee may be appointed 
to assist the leader in planning. A secretary could send 
out postal-cards each week to a particular section, reminding 
the individuals of their night. A cottage prayer-meeting 
rally could be arranged by each group. Any expenses will 
be met by a "group" collection. 
Dr. Banks's The Rev. Dr. Louis Albert Banks, who has many 
cone usions (^Qj^ygj-gjQj^g [^ ^\i j^jg pastoratcs, thus describes revival 
Revival preaching : "To be effective it. must be positive, direct, 
sympathetic, and directed towards the heart and not the 
head. It must be simple and clear, illustrative, intense, 
and full of the Bible. The preacher must be conscious 
that he is God's man, and always be sensitive to the Holy 

Spirit, "t 

Spjrituai Dr. Peck says: "The pastor's own spiritual condition 
coii .t.ons j^ ^ vital factor in revival preaching." "The greatest quality 
in good preaching is the holy quality of the man." "Re- 
vival preaching aims at definite and immediate results." "It 
should be plain and simple . . . earnest and awakening."J 

Moody's- Dr. Chapman says: "Mr. Dwight L. Moody began his 
preaching with his proclamation of the law, but when he 



ove 



* Revival and Pastor, p. 201. 

t How to Promote and Conduct a Successful Revival, by R, A. Torrey, 
p. 32 ff. 

X Revival and the Pastor, p. 115 ff. 

24Q 



Revival Efforts Bring Results 



had a conception given to him of the marvelous power of 
the love of God he began to tell that story; and, while 
he had been faithful to all parts of the Book, he has es- 
pecially been the advocate of God's love in the gift of His 
Son." Dr. Fish tells of scores converted during a terrible Thunder- 
thunder storm by the preacher's suddenly quoting, "Upon ''"™ 
the wicked He shall rain snares, fJre and brimstone, and an 
horrible tempest; this shall be the portion of their cup," 
and pushing it home to the sinners. This method may have 
once been effective. To-day cold "hell-fire" sermons and 
warnings of coming punishment harden and fix people against 
religion. Gypsy Smith has a sweet, penetrating voice, that Tender 
reaches the inner recesses of the heart. Dr. Chapman began """" 
his religious work singing in a choir, and his musical voice 
is as tender and pleading as a woman's. Gentleness, , heart- 
playing tones, love-arousing messages are the most moving. 
Dr. Peck tells with approval the following experience of a "Scorpio, 
once celebrated evangelist. Rev. A. B. Earle, who, speaking ^'^''^'^^'^ 
of revival preaching, said: "The fifth (sermon) was pre- 
pared with a scorpion in it. It was a severe one, and the 
last harsh sermon I ever preached, and the last one I ever 
expect to preach."* 

Dr. Charles L. Goodell, who is marvelously successful Outside 
as a revival pastor, having taken in three hundred and sixty- ''"''''"' 
two in one year, and four hundred the next, at the close of 
his special services, says: "When it comes to the revival 
service, throw your whole soul into it, and depend upon God 
and your Church for help. Good results have doubtless 
come from meetings in which several pastors have preached 
on succeeding nights, but careful and long-continued observa- 
tion has convinced us that more is lost than is gained by 
sharing responsibility with others. Face this issue with "holy 
boldness" an d absolute trust in God. Let it be fully under- 

* Revival and the Pastor, p. 122. 

16 241 



Workable Plans for Wide-Awake Churches 

stood by your soul that there is no compromise, no retreat, 
no surrender." 
Divert Dr. Peck says: "The author does not believe it wise 
even to call in the aid of brother ministers. ... It would 
be better to have one evangelist permanently than a dozen 
transiently."* Personal experience shows that usually outside 
helpers called in divert attention and make a leaky crack in 
the unity. 
Aim for Charles H. Yatman, a long time successful evangelist, 
gives the followng good advice about the meetings: "Aim 
at good meetings rather than great meetings; for converts 
rather than crowds; for daring leaders rather than dazzling 
ones; for results rather than reports; for Mr. Sound-in-the- 
faith as your chief card rather than Mr. Sounding Brass." 
*'It is a mistake to read too much Scripture in meetings." 
"It is the beginning and ending of services that are re- 
membered longest. Have a variety to begin with, and close 
in like manner." "Make a place in your plan of conduct- 
ing the service where people can be silent and meditate, 
and with their hearts and minds worship God." "Call 
to a private service folk of the parish who could and ought 
to take part in the meetings. . . . Then show them how 
to speak and pray in public, and make theni practice then 
and there." t 

Personal Effort 

Warmed by Visiting and individual appeals pave the way for success. 
Dr. Peck says: "Often and often during revivals, while 
visiting from house to house and pleading with persons to 
give their hearts to Christ, I would hold on for a surrender 
of the soul till I had no time remaining for food, and has- 
tened from that triumph to the church to open the evening 



* Revival and the Pastor, p. 195. 

"{"Outline Sermons and Plans for Evangelistic Work, p. loi ff. 

242 



Revival Efforts Bring Results 



meeting."* "In every revival I spent each day in this per- Ready to 
sonal effort, and when the evenings came, men and women 
were there to seek Christ who would not otherwise have 
crossed the threshold of the Church." This work insured 
some to "move," and this infected others and insured the suc- 
cess of the meeting."f "If the pastor and a few choice spirits Specific 
will, during the week preceding the extra meetings, unite in 
prayer for individuals, and then separate to see these persons 
in private, holding on in prayer and personal effort until one 
or more have decided to seek the Lord, when the meetings 
open these persons will arise promptly at the invitation and 
go forward to the altar. The effect is at once electric. . . . 
Men will flock to see this new work and will be brought 
to concern of mind."J 

It is sadly true that many pastors neglect personal work Religious 

conversation 

— so gloriously fruitful, and so gladly welcomed by every 
one. Early in the author's life a resolve was formed never 
to meet a man many times without talking about personal 
religion. In an experience among politicians, high and low, 
business men, of meager and millionaire resources, officials, 
ail classes, not one has ever grown angry or rebuffed the 
subject. Men are eager quietly and kindly to talk about Welcome 
their heart-hunger, if approached tactfully at the right 
moment and with a broadly sympathetic bearing. Influence 
and even surprising confessions of Christ can be won in 
this way. Business men and politicians have more than once Politicians 
offered thanks with tear-wet eyes for proffering friendship 
and discussing personal religion. Ministers call usually only 
for money or favors. The city's bad element call to influence 
them in policy; Christ's representatives must confer more 
with these leaders about their relation to the kingdom. 



* Revival and the Pastor, p. 6i. 
•f Ibid., p. 69. 
t Ibid., p. 65. 



243 



Workable Plans for Wide-Awake Churches 



Trumbull on Df. Hciiry Clay Trumbull gives a most remarkable 
"^"^effort testimony to the value of personal touch : ''For ten years 
(In the Sunday-school missionary field) I addressed gather- 
ings of persons from ten or fifteen to five or six thousand 
each. In this v^ork I went from Maine to California, and 
from Minnesota to Florida. This gave me an opportunity 
to test the relative value of speeches to gathered assemblies. 
Later, for more than twenty-five years I have been the 
editor of a religious periodical that has had a circulation of 
more than a hundred thousand a week during much of the 
time. Meanwhile, I have published more than thirty dif- 
ferent volumes. Yet, looking back upon my work in all 
these years, I can see more direct results of good through 
my individual work with individuals than I can know of 
through all my spoken words to thousands of persons in 
religious assemblies or all my written words on the pages 
of periodicals and of books. And in this I do not think 
my experience has been wholly unlike that of many others 
who have had large experience in both spheres of influence."* 

Drummond's Henry Drummond tells of an American medical student 
who remained at school an extra year to wiq a skeptical 
friend and, succeeding, saw this friend become a medical 
missionary. Dr. Chapman says that an upward pushing on 
his elbow by his Sunday-school teacher led him to a de- 
cision for Christ. Who can tell the result of one person 
won, though this alone takes much time and effort. 

Dr. Peck's Dr. Peck does not believe that preaching is necessary 
every evening. He suggests a week's program like the fol- 
lowing to vary the services: "Devote Monday evening to 
young people and converts. Get them to testifying. On 
Tuesday night have a stirring prayer-meeting, urging the 
members to leave off all their Introductions and perorations. 

* Individual Work for Individuals, p. 29. 
244 



Weekly 



Revival Efforts Bring Results 



an s 
methods 



. . . Great results are often realized by Inviting ten or 

twelve persons to pray, If only for a minute or a half minute 

each. This will encourage the young and timid to lead in 

brief petitions who would not otherwise attempt to 'make 

a prayer.' On Wednesday evening a sermon may, perhaps, 

be in order. On Thursday night ask the Church members 

present to tell the unconverted what led them to seek Christ, 

or 'what they did In seeking Christ.' On Friday night have 

a testimony meeting or a sermon, according as the Interest 

indicates."* 

Giving the Invitation 

The invitation will be given In many ways, varied to Varied 
**catch" different people and meet variant conditions. 

Dr. Sheridan gives the following as his methods : ^"Ask sherid 
the audience to bow their heads, and request any desiring 
prayer to raise the hand. Appointed workers are seated 
in the rear who watch and invite these to remain after 
service. With only fifty or sixty left It is easy to hold an 
altar service or deal with people at close range. At times 
the audience Is not dismissed, but those compelled to leave 
are permitted to do so during the singing of a song. When The ah 
the feeling Is good, people are Invited to come directly to 
the altar. Frequently before such an Invitation, a half dozen 
or more Christians are called to the altar to help the needy 
one to come. If all are called, either the small response 
win dampen the meeting or the large crowd will push some 
out. At other times those who have been Christians one 
year, five years, etc., are called front. Sometimes people 
are not called 'seekers,' but those purposing to lead a new 
life are Invited to give the pastor their hand at the altar. 
When they come, the question of their willingness to be 
prayed with and for Is asked. The willing ones are kept 



* Revival and the Pastor, p. 197 S. 

245 



Workable Plans for Wide-Awake Churches 



on the front seats. No 'sharp turns or tricks' are employed. 
Courtesy 'The law of Christian courtesy will solve the problem for 

persistency any pEFticular service.' 'Persistency is a prerequisite to suc- 
cess In a soul-winning service.' Almost any service can be 
made fruitful by a wise and persistent leader. The last 
thing a preacher should ever do is to get mad — to become 
impatient in tone or word or movement. 
Express "If they will not arise for prayers, or lift a hand, per- 
haps they will acknowledge their purpose at some time to 
live a Christian life. 'Use all the powers of the personality 
to move the people.' "* 

Dr. Peck's Here follow some of Dr. Peck's general advices as given 
a vice.^ ''The Revival and Pastor:" "A conspiracy of adverse con- 
ditions will sometimes arise to daunt the confidence and cour- 
age of the people." "Have a courageous faith." (p. 151.) 
"Enthusiasm, especially in the pastor, is indispensable to his 
work. It fills his preaching, exhortations and prayers with 
an indescribable potency. It imparts to the audience its own 

Optimistic magnetism." (p. 182.) If the pastor "has discouragements 
and fears, let him tell them to God, but never to the people." 
(p. 185.) "Often the writer has met only utter discourage- 
ment the first three weeks, but persistent pluck has at last 
been rewarded with marvelous success. Once he staid all 
night in prayer with a few heroic souls, and within three 
days the work of God was moving grandly." (p. 47.) 
Wavering "The author, in the greatest revival he ever saw, lasting four- 
teen weeks, when over fifteen hundred sought Christ, occa- 
sionally discovered a wavering in the line of battle and a 
decrease in the number of penitents. As often as this was 
manifest, he kindly told his members that there was a lack 
of earnestness in their praying. Did they want the work to 
stop? Would they falter now? They were summoned in 

* The Sunday Night Service, p 155 ff. 
246 



Revival Efforts Bring Results 



loving earnestness to reconsecrate themselves and seek a fresh 
anointing of the Holy Ghost. They gathered in great num- 
bers around the altar, and, after a half hour of prayer, the 
revival broke out anev^ w^ith increasing pow^er." (p. 149.) 
''Luther's epigram is true, 'The Lord is a good Worker, but Work the 
loves to be helped.' " (p. iii.) "Let the pastor work his 
Church. This is to be a revival without an evangelist. . . . 
The Church must feel that the responsibility is on them. . . , 
Exhort the people to brevity in prayer and testimony, and to 
continual work outside the meetings. Select some men for 
picket duty, to watch for strangers, and speak a word of 
welcome to them. . . . Enlist Christian women to visit 
families and invite them to the services. . . . The old deacon 
was philosophical and not egotistic who said, 'We always 
have a good meeting when I take part.' " "I always selected Secretary 
a secretary well acquainted with the community, who aided 
in securing names and addresses of all who came to the 
altar or rose for prayers. Together we frequently went 
over them and selected certain members of the Church to 
whom we gave one or more of the names. They were to 
visit these awakened persons at once and ascertain their 
spiritual condition, and help them accordingly, seeing that 
they ultimately united with some Church." (p. 189 ff.) 

Dr. Chapman gives the following warning: "There is Neglect of 
a disposition to be encouraged because of past success and ""^^"^ 
neglect to wait before God for the continuation of His 
blessing. This is perilous to the work, and few things could 
more grieve the Spirit." 

The writer has quoted af length from many authorities The author 
after several trials of the plans suggested, feeling a full 
approval of the advice given. The author has never en- 
gaged a regular evangelist, as yet, though he may do so, 
not being held by any rule. He heartily enters into union 

247 



Workable Plans for Wide-Awake Churches 

meetings. All of the quoted books, with others, are read 
and culled in preparation for revival meetings, and some of 
them are laid with the Bible during the campaign. Though 
always a city pastor, no revival season has passed without 
from twenty-five to one hundred and twenty-five conversions 
with accessions on profession of faith the year round. These 
results are achieved by prayer, purpose, and persistency. It 
may be suggestive to give the program of one revival 
Program of servicc. A Tousing, usually imported, leader conducts a 
"^^""^ thirty-minute song-service, using, not the solid hymns, but 
swinging songs, such as "The Glory Song" and "The King's 
Business." A number of short, voluntary prayers follow, 
with a Scripture lesson (always brief), then the announce- 
ments and collection. After a spiritually sung solo comes 
the twenty-minute, newly prepared sermon, spoken with 
confidence in God, and using all the hearty force at com- 
Aitaririand. This closes with an appeal. If many immediate 
service j-gspQj^ggg occur, an altar service is immediately held. If 
not, then follows a testimony meeting of the "short stop" 
sort in answer to a question put, related to the evening's 
subject. Sometimes it closes by everyone rising who did not 
speak and saying, "Praise the Lord," and sitting down again 
in a reverent and orderly way. Then the invitation is given 
again^ If it fails, Christians are called to the altar for 
prayer. Then, while they are prajang, the pastor is in the 
audience urging folks to decide. To a man he will say, 
"Will you come up if all the men, Christians, and those 
desiring prayers are invited to an altar service?" This saves 
him an embarrassing designation and if at all interested he 
-seldom refuses. So young people, women, married folks, 
and the different classes are addressed. Frequently there 
are three or four altar services. An effort is always made 
to get the new convert to testify. Inquirers are handed 

248 



Revival Efforts Bring Results 



over to competent people asked to do this work, the pastor 
only coming in when they fail. Workers seek to hold the Retain 
unconverted until after the meeting. The pastor always "°*'°"^*'' ^ 
picks out a promising case and goes after it as soon as 
the benediction is pronounced. Many of the best conversions 
occur after nearly every one has gone home. Sometimes a Men to the 
service is closed by having all the Christian men come to 
the front and stand while the rest of the audience pass by 
and shake their hand, meanwhile the chorus and people sing 
a familiar piece. This creates a warm, social atmosphere, 
and the standing men give force to the vigor and attractive- 
ness of the Gospel. The unconverted are often "broken up" 
by such a service. Every possible sane means is used to vary Pastor's 
and warm the services, the pastor being always guided by 
Dr. Peck's advice: ''There must be a strong hand on the 
helm, and that hand should be the pastor's hand. He must 
possess the revival spirit if he would have a revival, and 
must stand at the center of the mighty movement." 

Variant Plans Employed 

Trial and good testimony prove that results may be Fit the per- 
secured by an adapted use of a few other plans like the ones ^°°^" ^ 
which follow. They are not developed fully, since every 
individual worker must fit them to his own personality and 
to local conditions, if they are to be used at all. 

Fix a specific time and ask the people to pray and plan for Preparing 
it. Preach preparatory sermons, but, when the meetings open, ^^''™°"^ 
start after sinners. Do not club Christians. Here are a 
few advance sermon subjects used : "The Need of Worship, 
True Worship, Genuine Thankfulness, Fitness for Prayer, 
Religious Loafers or the Necessity for Christian Activity, 
Man's Greatness When Empowered by Christ, Love 
Touches and Lifts by Sacrificing, The Need and Price of a 

249 



Workable Plans for Wide-Awake Churches 



Midweek Revival, Unity from Brotherly Love." Have preparation 
subjects subjects in prayer-meeting. The following w^ere used by 
the author: 

SUBJECTS 

FOR 

WEDNESDAY EVENINGS 

AT 

GRACE M. E. CHURCH, 

Cor. S. 14th and W. 13th Ave. 



Why is it that so few attend prayer-meeting? 

Psalm cxxii, i. 

What is the cause of the general religious indifference? 

Isaiah liii, 6. 

The greatest Christian movement to-day. 

Acts i, 8. 

Are revival meetings unwise? 

Acts iii, 19. 

How can revival meetings be brought about? 

Jeremiah xxxiii, 3. 

Can every one do personal work? 

2 Corinthians v, 17-20. 

Will it do any good to pray for the unconverted? 

James v, 16. 

What do I mean to do? 

Psalm cxvi, 13. 

A HOMELIKE CHURCH. 

Create Invitc outsiders to talk. Pass questions that draw out 
**'"'^*"*' experiences. Let it be seen how many were converted in 
revival meetings. Find how the meetings were conducted. 
Moaning prayers, head-clubbing testimonies, pessimistic fore- 
bodings, and Job-advisers ought to be shut off like a draught 
on a bald head in the winter time. No pastor should either 
use or permit them. Suppose there is sin and laxity in the 
membership, hold out clearly the richness and joy of a real 
revival season and soul-cleaning, and preparation will result. 

250 



Revival Efforts Bring Results 



Keep constantly in tender and sweet touch with Christ, and 
let this spirit out for the specific purpose of getting them to 
hunger for righteousness. 

Rally every organization in the Church for a separate a, 
conference. Close the official board meeting preceding the 
special services with a "tea," followed by a conference and 
prayer for the meetings. 

Do the same with the young people's organization, the 
Sunday-school, and the ladies' societies. Take it for granted 
that all favor the meetings. Organize a prayer league weeks Prayer 
beforehand. Here is a pledge used: 



rouse 
organiza- 
tions 



'This one thing I do.'\ 

PRAYER LEAGUE. 



/ agree to unite nuith my pastor and other members of the 
League in prayer, morning, noon, and night, for a revival of religion 
in THIS Church, and <zvill also sustain the special services by my 
presence and co-operation to the best of my ability. 

GRACE M. E. CHURCH, 
Chris. F. Reisner, Pastor. 
Dec. 6, 1903. 
Meetings begin Jan. loth. Name 



Encourage the making of prayer-lists. Constant work Prayer lists 
for one or two particular persons wins. These plans will 
create a faith-building air of expectancy. 

Plan and pledge for only two weeks of meetings. If The music 
wise to continue longer, interest will hold them. Get a 
good singing leader and organist who are religious and can 
put feeling into the music. Select a sane song-book or print 
a card with personally valued pieces on it. Have enough 
for every one. 

Print your subjects for the two weeks. These may illus- Printed 
trate: '""'^^ 

251 



Workable Plans for Wide-Awake Churches 



10.30 A. M. — A Modern John the Baptist. 
7.30 P. M. — Man's Natural Greatness. 

MONDAY, JANUARY 11. 
A Name to be proudly worn. — Rom. i, 16. 

TUESDAY, JANUARY 12 
Get off the fence. — Rev. iii, 15. 

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 13. 

Are "conscience and doing right" safe guides? — Acts xxiii, i. 

THUr'sDAY, JANUARY 14. 
A new route to Heaven. — Gen. xi, 4. 

FRIDAY, JANUARY 15. 
Sick folks cured. — Matt, ix, 2-8. 

SUNDAY, JANUARY 17. 

10.30 A. M. — Am I my brother's keeper? — Gen. iv, 9. 
7.30 P. M. — A strong but crippled man. — 2 Kings v, 1-19. 

MONDAY, JANUARY 18. 
Ideal socialism desirable. — Matt, xxiii, 8 ; Rom. xiii, 10. 

TUESDAY, JANUARY 19. 

A great mine discoveredi — i Cor. iii, 21. 

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 20. 
A fast young man. — 2 Sam. xviii, 14-17. 

THURSDAY, JANUARY 21. 
What sin can not be forgiven? — i John v, 16. 

FRIDAY, JANUARY 22. 
Is there a Hell? — Luke xvi, 22, 23. 

SUNDAY, JANUARY 24. 
10.30 A. M. — A bankrupting transaction. — Mark x, 17-22. 
7.30 P. M. — How can I have faith? — Heb. xii, 2. 
P. S. — Consecration meeting at 7 P. M. each evening in small 
Chapel. 

252 



Revival Efforts Bring Results 



Arrange the territory around your Church into dis- Canva 
tricts, with a committee in charge of each. Let them aticaii> 
scatter the printed matter and take a religious census. The 
author used the following card: 



No. 



Street. 



Names of Inmates 



Letter 



Adults. 



Children. 




Note. — After the written abbreviation for the name of the 
Church there will be [M] for member, [P] for preference, [A] for 
attend. Under letter [L] will mean have a Church letter, [C] a 
member in the city; a blank, that their membership is in another 
place. If boarder, put [B] after name. 



Name of Caller. 



253 



sign . 



Workable Plans for Wide-Awake Churches 



Question for Usc your owii people as preachers. Ask the questions: 

'^^'""°°'' What brought you to Christ ? What kept you away? Why 

are you glad you are a Christian? Appoint three or four 

ahead of time to start the answers. 

Lead to Methods in the services are valuable and necessary. 

ecision -j^^^ j^ Q pg^j^'g ''Revival and the Pastor" should be placed 

alongside the Bible during the campaign. The way to 

Christ must not be made too hard nor too easy. It is as 

simple as it Is to love. We should use every tactful method 

to "land" the fish. Never scold, never get discouraged, 

never acknowledge defeat. Find something to rejoice over 

and to commend. Help people to move by expecting It. 

Dr. Chapman never says ''who will?" but "how many?" 

Cards to If the "card system" will start people, use it and follow 

it up. Here is a good card used by the Lexington Avenue 

Baptist Church, Chicago, which has been succeessfully used 

at Grace Church: 

/ am a Church member, and desire prayer that I may do better 
service for Christ. 

Name 

Address 

/ am a Christian, but not yet a member of a Church, and desire 
prayer that I may folloiv the commands of Christ. 

Name 

Address 

/ am not a Christian, and desire your prayer that I may be 
saved. 

Name 

Address 

Dr. Chapman, In all his meetings, employs the following: 

I HAVE AN HONEST DESIRE TO LIVE A CHRISTIAN LIFE. 

Name 

Address 

Church or Pastor's Preference 

Usher's Name 

254 



Revival Efforts Bring Results 



Train a personal workers' class weeks before. Let Workers' 
them bring live objections to be met, while training them, 
and have members impersonate different sorts of unbelievers. 
When the meetings start, these assistants are heart-hot and 
capable. Urge each one to hold an unconverted person after 
the meeting is dismissed and, if unable to clear up his 
clouds, to detain him until the pastor can get to him. 
Every possible means must be employed to get people into 
the service. It is easy to preach during revival meetings. Calling 
and the pastor must do much calling and inviting as well 
as outside pleading. Hearts touched on the street will be 
more easily moved in the meeting. 

Advertise. Big signs around the church, billboards all Publicity 
over the city, prominent articles in the daily papers must be 
employed. In the last meeting at Grace Church, one daily 
paper printed the words and music of a popular religious 
song. Another paper printed a new song, written by our 
music leader. Another reproduced one of the big billboards 
used. London Heights Church, Kansas City, Kansas, got 99 men 
man after man to promise to be ojie of ninety-nine men to 
come and sing "The Ninety and Nine." They thus aroused 
the workers, fed curiosity, and secured the attendance of 
many men. Another Church issued a card promising that "Trades" 
"a blacksmith, a school teacher, a grocer, a machinist, a 
painter, a working girl, a carpenter, a doctor, a lawyer will 
tell "Why I am a Christian." This last meeting was held In 
a hall, hoping to catch people prejudiced against a church 
building. 

Charles M. Alexander, the stirring Associate of Rev. Luncheon 
R. A. Torrey, was invited to a luncheon by a prominent real 
estate dealer In Philadelphia who had been aroused In re- 
vival meetings. This business man then invited In forty- 
three young business men. They opened the meal with a 
Psalm, and then talked about religion In a general way. 

^5S 



Workable Plans for Wide-Awake Churches 

Soon the "Spirit" fell upon them and one after another 
arose and acknowledged that he had not been living a right 
life. Five then and there accepted Christ for the first time. 
At once these men began to do personal work, and a result 
fifty men were converted in the next few days. Why not 
duplicate this meeting' all over the land? Men are tender 
and will respond. It ought to be as easy to talk about 
Christ as about civic righteousness at such a time and place. 

New Converts 

Systematic Ncw converts require careful and systematic attention. 

*'^'^* It Is often harder to hold them than to start people In 

the Christian life. A leader of ability and consecration can 

look after from five to ten. He will plan to be a social 

as well as a spiritual friend. The weaker may have the 

care of an under-shepherd, who, at a quiet suggestion, looks 

Into the only after him. Receive converts at once Into some sort of 

membership (if there Is no probation plan, make one) In 

the Church at once. Do not let them wait. Dr. Upham 

advised early baptism, since it would "burn the bridges Jje- 

Ruieshind them." Send a personal letter with a few clear rules 

on a card that they can easily carry. 

The author prepared the following: 

A FEW RULES. 

(keep where they will act as a reminder.) 

1. Pray — read the Bible and good books — associate and talk v/ith 
Christians. Avoid bad companions and surroundings. 

2. Attend every Church service possible, and take an interest in 
them. Do not let lazy, dead Christians be your example. Do not 
be frivolous or careless about sacred things. 

3. Strive to help some one else to Christ. Show His spirit in 
all deeds and words. Be kind. Correct harsh words and deeds. 
Proudly claim the name "Christian." 

Social life Plan a social life ; they will be lonely and lost when the 
meetings close and their old haunts and habits are forsaken. 

256 



Revival Efforts Bring Results 



It is always well to mark and present a small New Testa- Testament 
ment to the young men converts. Twenty-five cents will 
purchase one. Loan them good books. Many stimulating Books 
ones are now found in fiction form. Biographies of the 
lively sort can not be excelled for helpfulness. Pray for 
and love them, and follow unusual leadings in their behalf. 

Dr. Peck, in writing about the new converts, says : Companions 
"Old habits are pirates in the guise of friendship. These 
habits will tempt converts to take little excursions in the 
old ways." Old companions w^ill draw them away and may 
wreck them. "They must learn to lean on Christ alone. 
. . . They must be taught to live by faith and not by feel- 
ing." "Keep up the soclableness of the revival. Revival 
meetings are eminently fraternal. . . . On Sabbath, at 
prayer and class meetings, and especially at the dismissal 
of the evening service, the old cordiality and friendly Interest 
of the revival weeks should be shown young converts." 
"Give converts something to do." "Make the reception on Work 
probation impressive." "Organize a probationers' class." 
"Let the public reception Into full membership be made a 
red-letter day."* 

Rev. J. Wilbur Chapman says : Dr. chap- 

man s 
suggestions 

The following suggestions may be made, among scores of others, 
as to the new convert's training: 

1. Create in his mind a desire to know God's Word. 

Some simple suggestions may be made as to Bible study, such as 

(a) Study one new verse of Scripture daily. 

(b) Commit to memory a whole book, like Ephesians or He- 
brews. 

(c) Put into practice the promises of the Bible. 

(d) Live daily by its principles and teachings. 

2. Make him understand his responsibility to the Church. 
(a) Its services, to attend them. 



-Revival and the Pastor, p. 217. 

17 257 



Workable Plans for Wide-Awake Churches 



(b) Its prayer-meetings, never to be absent without an excuse 
which could be given to Christ. 

(c) Its support. No Christian really grows until he knows the 
grace of giving. 

(d) The peculiar doctrines of the Church should be taught him. 
He ought to know why he is a member of this particular Church. 

(e) Stir his soul with a desire to help others. This stimulates 
his own growth. 

3. Teach him at once that he may be filled with the Holy Ghost. 

(a) This is his birthright in Christ. 

(b) This is the secret of victory over self and sin. 

(c) This is the secret of Bible study. 

(d) This is the real inspiration to service. 

(e) This is the joy of service.* 



* Outline Sermons and Plans for Evangelistic Work, p. 114. 



258 



CHAPTER XII. 

Money for the Church and Allied 
Interests. 

Gathering Money Impressively 

Bishop McCabe, addressing a class of ministers about Bishop 
to be admitted to the Kansas Conference on trial, said: 
**If I should give you a motto, it would he/'Raise money and 
save souls" Jesus took occasion strongly to commend the 
widow for putting her "mite" into the collection-box. It Beg 
is a shame to use the word "beg" in connection with Chris- 
tian work. It is possible to make the regular Church 
offering a time of real worship. Forethoughts are more Preceding 
effective than afterthoughts; therefore, the pointed prayer 
concerning the giving of money has a better effect when 
coming before the collectors pass. 

Religion so cheap that it pays nothing brings little joy Honest 
or help. On the other hand, money-giving does not con- 
done or purge dishonest gains. A juggler in India, who had 
filled his pockets by cheating, stopped to cleanse his sin by 
a Ganges bath. A monkey found his clothes, abstracted all 
the money, and then threw it in the river after him. There 
is only one way for genuine cleansing — a giving up of all 
ill-gotten gains. God still sits over against the "treasury'* 
and sees the offering and the offerer. 

It is not out of place to enforce the need, the privilege, Enforcement 
and the spirit of giving. It is not so easy to pass on a col- 
lection-plate to a neighbor without making a contribution 

259 



Workable Plans for Wide-Awake Churches 

as It is to ignore a box with a handle that is poked in front 
Expectant of One. The very air of the ushers can be impressive. 
They may rush along quickly and lightly. They may pass 
the money-receptacles quietly, impressively, and expectantly. 
The old conductor, who instinctively reached for the bell- 
cord at the side of a regular attendant who Ignored the 
;ollectIon, felt the dignity of his work. 

The Weekly Pledge 

Addressed Gracc Church, Denver, began its financial year with 
y aymen ^^^ short addresscs by leading laymen, after a brief sermon 
on the need of Church support and In appreciation of the 
Follow up business methods of the local Church. Cards were passed, 
**^^ *"* asking for weekly subscriptions, at once, and the announce- 
ment was made that early Monday morning every absent 
member would be mailed a similar card. The chairman of 
the finance committee knew practically who was absent, by 
viewing the audience. The committee worked far Into the 
night addressing envelopes. Those present and those re- 
ceiving letters were told that if there was no response in 
ten days another card would be sent, together with a stamped 
envelope addressed to the chairman. At the close of this 
time those failing to reply got the card and envelope, with a 
letter telling them that if no answer came to this letter the 
committee would conclude that the member wanted an 
Suggesting amount to be suggested. At the end of ten days another 
letter went out to those yet falling to reply, suggesting an 
amount, and saying that no reply would mean that this 
amount was satisfactory. The plan worked so well that 
pledges were received from nearly the entire membership. 
Pastoral Somc pcople havc no idea about the demand for work 
TTia'ted and money which a minister must meet. It Is a bit em- 
barrassing for the pastor to relate it, but better than for 
ignorance to continue. Usually there is an ex-minister in 

260 



Money for the Church and Allied Interests 

the audience, or the son of one, or a peculiarly sympathetic 
professional man who can detail It. This knowledge often 
leads to both greater loyalty and better support. 

All wise Churches now have numbered and dated en- Envelopes 
velopes for the whole year. The calendar-holder and the 
simple card-holder are both good. The Wolverton Pub- 
lishing Co., of Osage, Iowa, now gets them out In padded 
form. One envelope can be torn off and the stub, holding 
date and blank for amount. Is left just as In a bank check 
book. This enables the contributor to keep exact account, 
guards against mixing the envelopes, and holds them together 
In a compact and convenient shape. They sell for ten cents 
for a pad (holding fifty-two envelopes) when ordered In 
quantities of two hundred. The Colorado Anti-Saloon Cards witt 
League pastes a small envelope on the end of the subscrip- ^"^^ """^^ 
tlon card, so that the first or total payment can be put In. 
Money can also be Inserted and mailed by putting this card 
in an envelope. 

B. E. Helman suggests that the Epworth League Treas- Young^ 
urer meet with the regular Church treasurer, and find the pledge 
names of the young people who contribute nothing to Church 
support and then help to get a pledge from them. This Is 
a capital plan and Is workable. 

It must be made easy to pledge. It Is false economy to 
save In printing and postage at this point. Tithing Is In- Tithing 
creaslngly practiced. One Church subscription card bears SubscHptior 
three rows of figures on the back, the first column specify- 
ing a possible weekly subscription, the second giving the 
amount this will equal for the year, the third presenting 
the Income upon which this Is a tithe — e. g. A weekly pay- 
ment of fifty cents means for the year, $26.00, which Is one- 
tenth of a yearly Income of $260.00. It impresses the pos- 
sibility of weekly subscriptions. 

Independence Avenue M. E. Church, Kansas City, Mo., 
261 



Workable Plans for Wide-Awake Churches 
Estimated prints a detailed statement of the estimated expenses for the 

expenses i r i i 

year on one end oi the card. 
Pledge form Here is a good form for a pledge: 

/ ivill pay $ per iveek toivards the current expenses of 

Church, taking this opportunity to sho^w my 

gratitude to God and to ivork nvith Him for the ivorld's uplift. 

P. S. — // the Lord prospers me, I ivill increase my subscription 
later. If reverses come and I am compelled to diminish it, I ivill 
notify the Financial Secretary. 

Financial Roberts Park Church, Indianapolis, has four assistant 
financial secretaries, with one in charge of all names from 
A to C, another from D to J, and so on. 
New Rev. Warren H. Day says: *'We have free seats. Every 
new member is at once asked to contribute to the Church 
support, and to benevolences. We WORK this plan." 
Rented Rev. Geo. C. Peck's Church rent the pews, but secure 
"^"^^ subscriptions to make up the deficit, using envelopes. 
Statements Many Churches, in connection with the assigned en- 
velope numbers, publish in the weekly bulletin the assigned 
number of those in arrears, together with the amount due. 
Monthly statements should be sent impartially to all. The 
offended ones will soon see the business sense in the plan and 
become reconciled. 
Subscription A subscription should be as good as a note. A Horton, 
Kansas, Church collected a subscription by going to law. 
Lexington Avenue Baptist Church does not give a Church 
letter to a financially able subscriber who is not paid up. 
The other Churches might profitably imitate it. 

The Tithe Receiving Church 

Wesley A few years ago, when Rev. J. W. Magruder became 
pastor of Wesley M. E. Church in Cincinnati, he found it 
depleted in membership and financial resources, though it 
had once been one of the most prominent in the denomina- 

262 



Money for the Church and Allied Interests 

tion. It is now a down-town Church, made up of clerks 
and artisans. Some time after he became pastor, four men origin 
and their wives at a dinner party, after discussing the matter 
for two hours, decided that "bringing the tithes into the 
storehouse" meant paying one- tenth into the Church treas- 
ury. Beginning the next Sunday, they put one-tenth of 
their week's income into the collection plate. Others signed 
a pledge to do the same, until, at the end of sixteen months, 
one hundred and eight were enrolled. Only sixty had thus Receipts 
tithed for a year, and yet these "paid to current expenses 
and benevolences nearly twice as much as all the other four 
hundred and forty members." "A surplus was left in the 
treasury at the end of the year, after all bills were paid; 
the apportionments for benevolences were met for the first 
time within living memory, and the two-million-dollar line 
for missions was reached without a struggle." This in "Hard 
spite of the fact that "times were never so hard, and the ""*^ 
income of members were diminished, while scores were out 
of employment either all or part of the time." At the 
same time, they had "the most spiritual year in the recent 
history of the Church, with an ingathering of one hundred 
^nd twenty- four new members." 

The treasurer reported: "During the seven years I 
have acted as treasurer, there has been no year that has 
placed upon me so light a burden as this." 

"The tithers include all sorts and conditions of people — TheUther 
errand boys, factory girls, working women, wage-earners, 
clerks, stenographers, book-keepers, business men, lawyers, 
physicians, preachers." "Each member pledges himself at Pledge 
the end of the week to count out one-tenth of his income 
from wages, salary, profits, rents, interest, inheritance, or 
other resources, balance his private tithe book, inclose the 
money in a weekly envelope, without signature or other mark 
attached (whereby the amount of one's income could be 

263 



Workable Plans for Wide-Awake Churches 



found out), and place the same on the collection plate at a 

Apportioned Sunday service." This money is kept in a separate fund, 
and apportioned by the pastor and officials in the ratio of 
45 per cent current expenses, 45 per cent to Conference 
collections and other benevolences, and 10 per cent to repairs 
and improvements of Church property. It thus reaches about 

FurtKer sub- twenty-one different objects. Having entered into this cove- 
nant, no member is expected to sign any other subscription 
for Church work or benevolence of any kind." 

The dues for the women's societies, and the men's club, 
and the Sunday-school collections, and money for every other 
department, is paid by the treasurer for those who tithe. 
They pay it into the Church, and are asked for no more. 

Advantages Bishop Thobum, in speaking of its advantages, says: 
"The casual worker likes it because it requires, instead of a 
stated amount, only a fixed proportion of his income. He is 
not 'dunned for his dues.' " "The element of secrecy is 
pleasing to the poor," because their meager giving is not 
compared with the munificence of the wealthy. "A feeling 

Conference of eQuaHty is diffuscd among the people." "To educate the 
people to this system of finance, a quarterly conference of 
tithers for the exchange of experience and the study of 
the Scriptures has been found to be invaluable." (Gathered 
from tract, "The Way It Works," by Rev. J. W. Magruder 
— published by Rindge Literature Dep't, 150 Fifth Ave., 
Magruder New York City.) Dr. Magruder has since been pastor of 
St. Paul's M. E. Church, Springfield, Ohio, and Chestnut 
Street M. E. Church, Portland, Me., and has successfully 
inaugurated this plan in both places. 
Preaching Whether this finance method is adopted or not, it is 
certain that the pastor must preach so as to train people 
in systematic, spiritual giving. He may not reap all the 
benefits, but the kingdom is sure to do so. Many con- 
scientiously believe that the Bible commands the paying of 

264 



Money for the Church and Allied Interests 

jne-tenth. Those who do not can do nothing less than en- 
force systematic giving and should be able to agree with 
J. Wilbur Chapman's declaration, "One can hardly be found 
who would contend that a Christian should give less than 
a Jew (who gave a tenth)." (From a personal letter.) 

Dr. Magruder also secured weekly current subscriptions Subscriptions 
from the non-tithers, attaching also a pledge-card on which to 
promise amounts for the different benevolences. This latter Benevolences 
card had the following pledge: "I hereby subscribe the 
following amounts to the various benevolent enterprises of 
the Church, and promise to pay, if possible, either through 
the weekly envelopes, or else to the financial secretary or 

pastor, not later than May i, ." The year closed in 

September. All collection envelopes had blank space for 
"benevolences" as well as for current expenses. 

Other Money Gathering Methods 

The First Baptist Church, of Worcester, Mass., Rev. Common 
L. C. Barnes, D. D., pastor, has a finance system called 
"United Giving," which they count a great success. They Church 
have one pledge for Church support, as follows : 



support 



/ pledge for the year ending December ^l, . . . ., $ cents 

per week for Church Support, including penv rent, in accordance 
(with the plan adopted by the Church, to be used for all local current 
expenses, as salaries, music, heating, lighting, Bible-school, Women's 
Association, Young People's Society of Christian Endeavor, Chinese 
School, etc. 

Name 

Date ig. . Address 

The Church finance committee makes up a budget of Estimate 
the money needed for the year. This is formed by each 
organization sending in an itemized list of their needs, e. g., 
the Y. P. S. C. E. asked for $iio.oo, to be used as follows: 

Junior Y. P. S. C. E., $io; Flower Committee, $26; 
265 



Workable Plans for Wide-Awake Churches 

Social Committee, $15; Lookout Committee, $5; Prayer- 
meeting Committee for Topics, $7 ; Local Union Y. P. S. 
C. E., $10; State Y. P. S. C. E , $7; Local B. Y. P. U., 
$2; State B. Y. P. U., $5; International B. Y. P. U., $5 ; 
Executive Committee, for general expenses, $18. Total, 
$1 10.00. 

The different women's organizations made up their 
budget; this was passed upon by an executive committee 
composed of representatives from each one, and then the 
advisory committee of the Church Board again considered 
it, and sent it to the finance committee. This plan saves 
the work of gathering and handling ten or fifteen different 
funds, and guards the people against being bored by constant 
collections. 
Beneficence The benevolcnces are subscribed in one fund, with a 
different treasurer, in the same way, payable weekly. The 
following pledge is used: 

Blank form BENEFICENCE. 

FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH, WORCESTER, MASS. 

/ pledge for the year ending December 31, IQ. ., $ cents 

per iveek for Beneficence, payable nveekly, or as I may arrange nvith 
the Treasurer, to be used in accordance ivith the plan adopted by 
the Church, including all general benevolences and charities in 
ijvhich our denomination is engaged, and such other objects as the 
Church or Advisory Committee may from time to time vote to aid. 
The division for igos is outlined on the back of this pledge card. 
Specific objects, if any, the following additional amounts 

(For objects not mentioned on the back). 



Name 

Address 

Date , 19. . (over) 

As this is a voluntary pledge, it may be canceled at any 
time by giving notice to the treasurer or the pastor. 

266 



Money for the Church and Allied Interests 

On the reverse side of this pledge-card the percentage DistHbutio 
used in distribution to the different causes is given as follows : 

PERCENTAGES FOR 1903. 

(of $1. going to each cause). 

Foreign Missions., ,: .40 

American Baptist Missionary Union .33 

Woman's Baptist Foreign Missionary Society 08 

Home Missions .40 

American Baptist Home Missionary Society 25 

Women's American Baptist Home Missionary Society. . .07 
American Baptist Publication Society — 

Bible-school advancement oi 

Bible distribution oz 

Massachusetts Baptist Convention 04 

Massachusetts Baptist Sunday-school Association 01 

City Missions .10 

Miscellaneous .10 

Worcester Children's Friend Society 01 

Northern Baptist Education Society 01 

Other Beneficence as the Church votes 08 



The children's organizations are also included. Two 21 included 
collections thus take the place of "twenty-one." 

Two sets of envelopes are furnished; the "Church sup- Envelopes 
port" are white, and the "beneficence" are pink. 

The first year this plan brought in $976.25 for "Home Success 
Missions" as against $590.83 the preceding year, and 
$1,607.94 for "Foreign Missions" as against $760.88 the 
preceding year. 

The Church that is not bothered with an annual deficit An 
is indeed rare. Rev. D. G. Downey, of St. John's Methodist 
Church, New York City, has devised a new method to 
meet this difficulty. A "Sustaining Member's League" has 
been formed. It consists of every one who agrees to take Shares 
one or more shares at $5.00 apiece, one-half to be paid on 

267 



\nnual 
deficit 



^ Workable Plans for Wide-Awake Churches 

Additional Christmas Sunday, and the other half on Easter. This sum 
is in addition to the regular subscription, and is to be used 
to make up any deficit at the end of the year. Four hundred 
shares are offered for sale These peculiarly sacred Sundays 
are chosen to make the gift more impressive and easy. 
Extra The Second Congregational Church, Oak Park, Chicago, 
has organized a ''Giving Syndicate" to supply funds for 
extra appeals outside of the current expenses and regular 
benevolences. Each member makes a definife pledge with 
the understanding that not more than tvi^enty per cent of 
this sum shall be called for in any one month. No public 
appeals are then to be made to the congregation for special 

Appropria- causes. Sums under one hundred dollars can be appropriated 
'°"^ by the executive committee. On gifts of larger amounts, 
all members of the "Syndicate" must be given a chance to 
vote. The Church seeks to get one hundred members in 
the "Syndicate," and to have two thousand dollars on hand 
Burdens for these appeals. This plan makes it possible, it is claimed, 
for a majority of the members to be represented in every 
special claim, and also distributes the burdens. The two 
thousand dollars was divided into as many dollar shares, and 
was subscribed by individuals, who took from one share to 
two hundred. The plan is a success, and funds are always 
available for hospitals, Anti-Saloon League support, new 
Church enterprise assistance, etc. 

Large sums It IS nccessary, in spite of all theorizing to the opposite, 
to use unusual methods to succeed in getting people to sub- 
scribe liberally for large causes, such as Church building 
enterprises. It is even much more difficult to clear an 
indebtedness. 

Blackboard Rev. Clare Ames drew a picture of his Church on 

picture , 

the blackboard and covered it with various cards marked 
with different sums, the whole totaling the amount of the 
indebtedness. As each subscribed, a card with his amount 

268 



corner 
stone 



Money for the Church and Allied Interests 

on was removed and delivered. Three-fourths of the picture 
was uncovered at the morning service. The pastor an- 
nounced that the bell would ring in the evening when the 
rest of the cards were removed, so that the "stay-at-homes" 
might know that all the money was pledged. The effort 
succeeded. 

Another plan is to cut a picture of the church into bits, DistHbut 
and deliver various parts of it to the subscribers until it all 
disappears. This plan could be followed for a new build- 
ing, explaining that, say twenty-five dollars would build 
four square feet of the basement, and so on with every part. 
This definite thing appeals. 

In Denver the boys worked for five thousand dollars for Cc 
the new Y. M. C. A. building under the promise that their 
money would be used to lay the corner stone and start the 
building. 

Bishop McCabe frequently begins with the last one hun- Last $100 
dred dollars, etc., and works backward. People will fre- Raise 
quently promise to raise a certain amount, in addition to 
their own pledge. 

Have a drawing made of the church that will be built Proposed 
if a certain amount of money is subscribed. After a good 
cut has been secured, print cards with this picture shown, then 
let the words follow, "To help build this kind of a church 

I will pay " The tangible picture will show possible 

results and encourage definite giving. An illustration may 
also be used to show the appearance of the building when 
contemplated improvements are made. Pride in their own 
church will be aroused. This plan has wrought surprising 
success when the Church seemed too poor to spend money 
for enlargements or improvements. 

Grace Church, Denver, raised a large sum of money jhank 
by a "Thank Offering." Each person was requested to "''^^""^ 
sacrifice and deny himself every possible thing, and put the 

26^ 



Workable Plans for Wide-Awake Churches 



amount saved in a provided envelope, 
all promised God to do their best. 
Collection were on the envelopes when returned 

envelope , • i i r n • 

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No one pledged, but 

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270 



Money for the Church and Allied Interests 



Washington Avenue M. E. Church, Kansas City, Kan., Washington 
had, for a number of years, while they were cumbered with a 
big debt, a "Washington Avenue Day." A fine program of 
music and addresses was prepared for the evening. Usually 
an out-of-town man of renown was secured for the prin- 
cipal addfess. All the members were expected to attend, 
and, either that evening or as soon as they could determine, 
turn into the treasury all of the money they had made that 
day. This was applied on the debt. 

In the Denver successful effort to raise $250,000 for a BoyBoostersI 
Y. M. C. A. building, the boys organized a "Boy Boosters" 
campaign, and raised several thousand dollars. They had 
one parade With a boys' band, and another with the cele- 
brated Cook's Drum Corps. The last time, automobiles Dollars 
carried large tin pans and people threw dollars in them from 
sidewalk and from building windows. Their yell was, 
"Holler for a Dollar," which was readily given. The Awards 
boys were awarded prizes — two for securing the most one- 
dollar cash donations, and two for the most money in total 
subscriptions. 

Great sums of money have been picked up with dime- "Dime" 
books ; adults can and will use them. Mail a little book, 
holding ten dimes, to each adult member, requesting him 
to get the book full to pay for new hymnals, to help carpet 
the church, or to buy a new piano, or for some other special 
cause. These books can be manufactured for one cent 
apiece, and the right kind can be used many times. 

The London Heights M. E. Sunday-school, Kansas City, improvement • 
Kansas, Prof. M. E. Pearson, superintendent, needed more 
room and encouraged the Church trustees to enlarge by 
pledging a liberal amount. They accepted the following 
plan to raise the money as soon as it was proposed by the 
superintendent. The pupils of the school were furnished 
a certificate containing the following words: 

271 



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4.4.4.4.4.4.4.+ 
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4. 4. 4. .J. 4. .5..;. ♦ 



373 



Money for the Church and Allied Interests 

When a pupil had sold five shares he was given a cer- 
tificate of a different color worded just the same, except that 
it was called "Preferred Stock." This he could keep. It 
was not salable. Every one who owned a "Preferred Stock" 
share was admitted to a free entertainment. Any who se- 
cured three "preferred shares" w^re given a specially de- 
signed pin. To spur effort, a number of merchants offered 
prizes to those who sold the most stock. The first prize 
was a guitar, valued at $20.00; the second was a gold-filled 
watch, valued at $10.00; the third, a ten-dollar doll; the 
fourth, a ten-dollar boy's suit; the fifth, a ruby-set ring. 
In all, eighteen prizes were offered. These were exhibited 
in a store window, and helped to advertise the Church. 
It was no trouble to secure the prizes from the merchants Prize 
since all of the printed matter contained their names, and the 
children constantly talked about the prizes for which they 
wxre working and the firms that offered them. Though Result 
the Church was small and poor, the children raised in this 
way, without any one feeling it, $350.00. The stock con- 
taining the picture of the church was scattered all over the 
city, and in many places it was displayed on the walls. 
The plan has much merit in it when worked carefully and 
tactfully. 

The Benevolent Collections 

The "Benevolence Collections" are frequently counted a Barred out 
burden or a bugbear, and are often utterly neglected if not 
ignored. Some local Church governing boards have tried 
and even succeeded in barring them out. A few pastors Separately 
avoid them as far as possible. One man declared 'that he 
must not endanger his salary by taking up money for the 
benevolences that would otherwise come to him. How 
short-sighted I Winners push these claims first, and then 
never suffer v.-ant themselves. There is, however, a glad 



Workable Plans for Wide-Awake Churches 



way and a gloomy way to take them. It is possible also to 
tire the Church out. A few pastors present them separately 
and take a collection for each at that time. Others prefer 
to earnestly and carefully offer for consideration all the 
interests and avoid impulsive and thoughtless giving by 

"Omnibus" taking the collection later. Some even "omnibus" (take 
all together) the different causes at an unexpected time, 
after each one has been given a place before the people. 
Christmas Onc pastor had $324.00 to raise. On Christmas-day he 
used a blackboard with three hundred and twenty-four 
shares marked on it. The printed card is on opposite page. 

Certificate Thc ncxt vcar a similar method was followed, and 
$734.00 was raised, though this time a larger certificate, 
with a picture of the church and a vacant place to specify 
the number of shares taken, instead of a card for each share, 
was used. This last certificate was worthy of being framed 
if so desired. Both were signed by the pastor. 

Benevolence Pastors usually look after the collection and remittance 
of their own benevolences. This takes valuable time from 
more important duties. Some Churches put these apportion- 
ments in the regular budget, and thus the Church treasurer 
handles the funds. This is seldom wise. It makes the 
cultivation of unselfishness and the appeals to w^ide-reaching 
brotherliness impossible. Home Church support alone does 
not broaden vision and sjmpathy. A treasurer for the 
benevolence money is a convenience, and it is also business- 
like. He can collect and forward it, and make a report to 
the Church. The pastor will not be bothered with figures 
and the over-spending of money coming at odd times in 
little amounts, and seeming to be his, which later must be 
replaced. 

Record for A careful record of the amount paid to the ditferent 

" ""^^ "^* causes should be kept. Rev. C. O. Kimball, of Trinidad, 

Colorado, sends out a letter of appeal, giving a brief account 

274 



Money for the Church and Allied Interests 



of the work of each society and the amount asked, enclosing 
a blank subscription card with a request for its return. In 
the letter he tells them how much they gave the previous 
year. People will seldom give less, usually they will in- 







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275 



Workable Plans for Wide-Awake Churches 



crease their subscription; a suggested sum is accepted as a 
help in deciding the amount of the new pledge. 
District The Kansas Citj^ Kansas, District of the Methodist 
Church appointed a committee some years ago with power 
to issue a little booklet for the Churches of the District, 
giving a brief history of the different benevolences together 
with the work they undertook and the results achieved. 
These pamphlets were then sent to the different charges 
without cost to them. The expense of printing and postage 
was met by two or three advertisements printed in the 
booklet. A few facts about giving were placed in the last 
pages, together with arguments in favor of tithing, all in 
Agreement brief form. This movement followed an agreement signed 
by all of the pastors at the District Conference to make a 
vigorous effort to have the benevolences **in full" (up to the 
amount apportioned) in every Church. 
Circular A circular letter was sent out to the different pastors at 
frequent intervals with a list at the top of those who reported 
that their collections' were "taken in full." It was a sort 
of honor-roll. One of the letters may be helpful to some 
other District, and so it is here given : 

Dear Brother Pastor, — The Methodist Church was once poor, 
but is so no longer. We are rich and influential. Prosperity was 
never so general. There is danger of spiritual atrophy. The people 
must give, or lose growth. It is as necessary to emphasize paying 
as praying, for it is only another word for service. Selfishness does 
not pay. Missions will bring home results. No local Church has 
too much to carry. It does good to be interested in a world move- 
ment. Breadth of view makes the members larger and stronger. 
If the Kingdom is not growing in one place but is in another, we 
♦ rejoice because its total power is increasing. We must also fulfill 
the complete conditions of the promise (Acts i, 8, "uttermost parts") 
if the "power" comes. Opposition to missions is usually fathered 
by ignorance. Tactfully imparted information will win substantial 
interest. 

We have a loyal, earnest, and brotherly lot of pastors in the 

276 



Money for the Church and AlHed Interests 



district. They always respond to appeals. You, as one of them, 
will appreciate the purpose of this letter, and will do your best to 
make true the rallying cry, "Missions in full in the District." 

May I venture a few suggestions? Missionary prayer-meetings 
carefully planned can be made intensely interesting. They will 
strengthen faith and fire enthusiasm. Use the missionary committee 
to gather subscriptions, circulate tracts, give entertainments, and 
prepare programs. Children can collect large sums in small 
amounts. Boxes (twenty-five cents per hundred fronl the Mission- 
ary Society) and dime-holding cards will be valuable assistants. 
Arouse enthusiasm for the collection. Put a good committee in 
charge of the monthly Sunday-school program. It will excite inter- 
est and add membership to the school. 

Preach two or three, possibly a series, of missionary sermons 
without a collection. This will furnish fuel. Money will then 
come. Treat the subject aside from God's mere command. Self- 
contained countries die (e. g., China). Civilization alone is help- 
less (Read A. J. Gordon's "The Holy Spirit in Missions"). Use 
the Philippine problem ; the people are our charge ; the Gospel alone 
can elevate them. Christianity demands for its life-breath a world 
atmosphere. The command of Jesus is final, but He had a reason 
for giving it. 

Arrange to change pulpits with some near-by brother, each 
to preach on missions. Yours, sure of success, 



First M. E. Church, Lawrence, Kansas, printed a simi- Ucai 
lar pamphlet for the local Church, paying for the same by*'"^''"" 
admitting a few advertisements. Others print succint facts 
about each "cause" on the back of the card prepared for 
subscriptions. 

The subscription cards used for the benevolences usually Card forms 
specify the amount desired (totals) for each "cause," with 
a blank, so that individuals can distribute their contribution. 
Many, however, simply pledge a total amount. Dr. Louis 
Albert Banks, of Trinity Methodist Church, Denver, Colo., 
prepares the following card to secure pledges: 

277 



Workable Plans for Wide- Awake Churches 



Trinity M. E. Church. 

Denver, Colo., May 20, igo6. 
I hereby promise to contribute on or before August I, igo6, the 

folloiving sum, $ , to the Conference Benevolences 

of the Methodist Episcopal Church for the present Conference year, 
to he divided pro rata according to the regular apportionments. 

Name 

Street No 

Passion A number of pastors use a collection envelope in con- 
"^^^ denial ncction with the passion week services for money saved by 
sacrifice. Here i^ a sample: 

PASSION WEEK 

SELF-DENIAL ENVELOPE. 

March 27 to April 3, 1904. 

In Memory of the Supreme Sacrifice of Jesus. 

"Who loved me and gave Himself for me." — Gal. ii, 20. 

"For Christ also hath once suffered." — i Pet. iii, 18. 

"He that spared not His own Son, but delivered Him up for us 
all." — Rom. viii, 32. 

"For I have given you an example." — John xiii, 15. 

"He that taketh not his cross ... is not worthy of Me." — 
Matt. X, 38. 

"Could ye not watch with Me one hour?" — Matt, xxvi, 40. 

The Plan: Take time for Bible reading, thought, and prayer; 
use imagination to picture scenes and facts. 

Attend all the services if possible. 

Deny Self: Pleasure, expensive clothing, food. Place money 
thus saved in envelope, to be used in advancing God's kingdom. 
* Bring with you Easter Sunday morning. 

GRACE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH, 

Christian F. Reisner, Pastor. 

P. S. Printed on a collection envelope fixed to hang up. 
278 



Money for the Church and Allied Interests 

The Central Presbyterian Church, Rev. R. F. Coyle, Missionary 
D. D., pastor, used the following card to secure their mis- 
sionary offering: 



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279 



Workable Plans for Wide- Awake Churches 

The fund This both urges and makes definite and easy the prac- 
tice of self-denial for Passion week, which practice will 
surely bring a blessing. The money can be given to some 
worthy cause that will appeal along this particular line. 
The author at one time sent all the undesignated money 
to the India Famine Relief. With the envelope is a card 
of convenient size, with the Gospel passages describing the 
events of Christ's life for that week distributed into days, 
printed upon it. * 



280 



CHAPTER XIII. 
Methods for Arousing Missionary Interest. 

The Spirit of Power 

The spirit of missions is the spirit of power. No pastor Enlightened 
or Church in this enlightened day can expect to have con- 
versions in the local Church, or even a spiritual atmosphere, 
without hearty interest in and and enthusiastic support of 
missions. In dark days, men who advocated slavery had 
power, but in this sunny day such a thing would be im- 
possible. When heathen land doors were shut, when the- 
ological belief that told William Carey that if God wanted 
the heathen evangelized He would do it without any of his 
help, held sway; when facts, figures, and fruits were un- 
collected, and when ripe opportunities, yearning eyes, and 
over-burdened laborers did not beckon, men might neglect 
or even disbelieve in foreign missions. But that day has 
gone. Jesus promised "the power" that should witness in The promise 
Jerusalem, Judea, and the "uttermost parts of the world." 
If we limit the power, our piety will grow as unhealthy as 
air shut in by closed windows. Walled China degenerated. 
Localizing exclusively will dwarf and emaciate any Church. 
It is poor economy to neglect foreign fields for the purpose 
of saving strength or money for the home land. Jacob A. Jacob a. 
Riis, after some disbelief in foreign missions, went abroad 
and was completely changed in his views. He now declares : 
"For every dollar given to those in need abroad, the spirit 
that gives it provides ten for home use." 

281 



Workable Plans for Wide-Awake Churches 



A church When Rev. Chas. E. Bradt became pastor of the First 
Presbyterian Church, Wichita, Kansas, the Church was bur- 
dened financially, and the people were worn out with the 
load. "These conditions made the problem of a bare exist- 
ence as a Church organization and the maintenance of the 
stated services of the Church," in the words of Dr. Bradt,. 
"a great question." *'In the face of these facts the doctrine 
was preached that Christ had conditioned His presence and 
His almighty power, the Holy Spirit, upon practical willing- 
ness, on the part of His people, to obey the great com- 
mission." *'One cold, bleak January morning the pastor 
crossed the threshold of the church and declared this message 
and the people looked at him as though they thought him 
insane." But that day they took a missionary in China to 
support, and for the first time in ten years closed the year 
with the current expenses paid. 
Indebtedness The Church had a bonded indebtedness of $i8,000, and 
for years had not met running expenses, so that a large 
floating debt existed. The next year she doubled her 
missionary offering and paid the $18,000 bonded indebted- 
ness, and had money in the treasury. At the end of eight 
years the Church is sustaining four American missionaries 
and twenty-five native pastors and assistants in foreign fields, 
and is giving an average of four dollars per member to 
missions. At the same time about the same amount is given 

Missionary to home missions. At the end of eight years the Church 
has given $20,000 to foreign missions, $20,000 to home mis- 

Prosperous sions, and $60,000 to the local Church support. Here is 
the conclusion of Dr. Bradt, as given in a tract published 
two years ago: "The Church has, not only no debt, but 
she has and maintains in Wichita one of the largest plants 
doing business for God anywhere in the United States, with 
a pastor, assistant pastor, minister of music, two office as- 
sistants, a city missionary, a central Church of 1,300 mem- 

282 



Methods for Arousing Missionary Interest 

bers, a Bible school, about one hundred officers and teachers, 
seven hundred scholars, a men's department with a men's 
club and two boys' clubs, two Christian Endeavor So- 
cieties, a Junior Missionary Society, a children's Mission 
Band, a Bible Training Department, three prayer meetings, 
a printing department issuing many thousands of pages of 
printed matter each 3^ear and a missionary magazine." 
(Tract by Rev. C. E. Bradt.) 

Luther, seeing so little spiritual life In the Church, cried Luther's 
out: "Asia and Africa have no Gospel; another hundred 
years and all will be over. God's Word will disappear for 
want of any to preach It." This was his Interpretation of 
the absence of the missionary desire and purpose. Phillips phiiiips 
Brooks, in his sermon, "The Heroism of Foreign Missions," 
says: ''Let me plead for the foreign missionary Idea as 
the necessary completion of the Christian life. It Is the 
apex to which all the lines of the pyramids lead up. The 
Christian life without It Is a mangled and imperfect thing." 
(Vol. II, p. 164.) Charles Darwin, on visiting the in- Terra del 
habitants of the island of Terra del Fuego, was convinced Darw°iD" 
because of their low condition that they w^ere the "missing 
link," but after their evangelization, several years later, he 
denied It and, though not a professing Christian, admitted, 
after visiting the island again, the power of the Gospel. 
Missions answ^er infidel objections in a final way. Rev. Accompany 
A. J. Gordon, D. D., In his book, "The Holy Spirit in'^^""'^^ 
Missions," shows from a careful study of history that all 
the great revivals were accompanied by missionary activity. 
The Pietists influenced Count Zinzendorf. He, in turn. Historical 
aroused Wesley's spiritual hunger, and the first Methodist '^^''"'^ 
bishop, Coke, died while on a missionary journey. Wesley, 
it will be remembered, was introduced to the Moravians 
while returning from America whither he had gone Inten- 
tioned to be a missionary to the Indians. John Newton, 

283 



increase 



Workable Plans for Wide-Awake Churches 

fired by correspondence with Wesley, aroused Thomas Scott, 
who then preaches so powerfully that William Carey, a 
young man in his congregation, gets the Holy anointing. 
David Brainerd, in America, is filled with the Spirit and 
is then driven to be a missionary to the Indians. Hungry- 
hearted, light-hunting Carey read Brainerd's journals and 
his missionary purpose became fixed, and the modern mis- 
sionary movement was born. John Newton nursed Claudius 
Buchanan into spiritual zeal and he went to India to trans- 
late the Bible there, and published a tract that led Adoniram 
Judson to become a missionary. Incidents might be repeated. 
Foreign Thc fact is evident that a free outpouring of the spirit leads 

evange iz^a^ ^^ forcign cvangclization as certainly in this day as in 
Paul's time. Since American Churches have aroused them- 

Membership sclvcs on this subjcct they have seen the home membership 
grow instead of barely holding its own or decreasing. The 
only question open to the alert pastor is, How can I interest 
the membership in missions? 
Mott John R. Mott, in his book, "The Pastor and Modern 
Missions," has given suggestions practical and alive, as well 
as arousing facts. Let me cull some of them out in the fol- 
lowing lines, feeling free to mix in a few personal suggestions 
without designating them. 



The Educational Campaign 

Fruitful "An educational campaign is as necessary for the growth 

Churches f ■, .. .. ../■ i-- 11 

or the missionary spirit as it is tor religious development. 
Many methods are employed to bring this about." "A 
study has been made of twenty-five of the Churches which 
have for a period of several years been yielding the largest 
financial results. They have had on an average each year 
five missionary sermons, ten Church missionary meetings, 
and thirty missionary gatherings of women's and young 

284 



ermon 
themes 



Methods for Arousing Missionary Interest 

people's societies. The missionary periodicals of the Church 
were widely circulated."* 

Mr. Mott suggests the following as bases for sermons :s 
"Biblical basis of missions;" "Biographical subjects;" "Mis 
sions in relation to the modern world movements;" "The 
transforming power of the Gospel in the lives of men and 
nations;" "Topics setting forth the present opportunity, the 
need of sacrifice, the falacles of %ome pleas.' " Bishop 
Warren's great missionary address, which has been printed 
In Chinese to open their eyes to this nation's friendliness, Is 
"America as a World Power." 

Among one hundred texts given by Rev. James Mudge, Te^ts 
D. D., in his pamphlet, "The Pastor's Missionary Manual," 
are the following : Gen. iv, 9 ; Lev. xlx, 34 ; 2 Sam. xxlv, 
24; Psa. Ixxxvi, 9; Isa. xl, 3; Ezek. xxxlx, 21 ; Mai. I, 11 ; 
Matt. xIII, 38; Mark xli, 31; John xx, 21; Luke Ix, 13; 
Acts xIII, 47; Rom. X, 13-15; 2 Cor. x, 16; Rev. xv, 4. 

Mr. Mott names among the great discourses known to Great 
men the following, all on missionary topics: "Expect Great 
Things from God, Attempt Great Things for God," by 
William Carey; "The Attraction of the Cross," by John 
Angell; "The Star In the East," by Claudius Buchanan; 
"The Moral Dignity of the Missionary Enterprise," by 
Francis Wayland; "The Heroism of Foreign Missions," by 
Phillips Brooks. 

Mr. Mott further suggests : Invite student volunteers interest and 

.... . ^^ , . information 

or returned missionaries to speak; Have a symposium by 
several business men; One pastor ylves a five-minute prelude 
each Sunday morning on missions; Another always relates 
some "good news" when discovered. Keep a comparative 
chart before the people, showing e. g., expenditures for 
chewing gum as compared with missions. Change them 
frequently. 

'•'The Pastor and Modern Missions, pp. 119, 120, 

285 



Workable Plans for Wide-Awake Churches 



Plan carefully for the monthly missionary mid-week 
service. Seldom use any one in this meeting outside 

Dr. Mudge of the Church membership. Rev. James Mudge suggests 
the following plans for this service: Have a ''sharp- 
shooting" exercise. Brief incidents or paragraphs are dis- 
tributed to a number sure to be present. They are num- 
bered and should be called for quickly one after another. 
Religious Study the different religions of the world, one at a time; 
e. g.. Divide the Mohammedanism into different subjects 
and assign them. This will be exceedingly interesting and 
instructive. The weakness of the religion and its degrading 

Comparison cffects will thus appcar. Take up the missionary work of 

different Churches. Vivify the large giving lof the Moravian 

Church as compared with that of the now wealthy Method- 

Punday ists. Ask a bright Sunday-school class to prepare a thirty- 
school class . • 1 1 

mmute program on some engrossmg theme to open the 
Invest service. Give out five-cent pieces to be invested and to be 
returned with the profits at some subsequent meeting, tell- 
ing how the additional money was earned. In one Sunday- 
school tw^o hundred pennies were given out and sixty dollars 
brought back; in another place one hundred pennies earned 
one hundred and tAventy-six dollars. Eighty dimes brought 
Personally in ouc hundred and eighty dollars. Request the audience 
to name any missionary personally known. It will be sur- 
prising how many individuals will tell incidents about the 
boyhood, young manhood, and early ministry of workers now 
. in the foreign field. Write on the blackboard the names of 
those having been met by people in the audience. Draw out 
all the known incidents about each as they are named. 
Scattered facts, before of seeming uselessness, will be gath- 
ered, interest will be created, and courage given for further 
research. 

Leaving the missionary prayer-meeting, we will finish 
Mr. Mott's further suggestions. "The Canadian Presby- 

286 



laps an 
pictures 



Methods for Arousing Missionary Interest 

terlan Church has arranged to Introduce in their Sunday- Canadian 
school publications a systematic series of questions on mis- byTeVians 
sions, and to give each teacher missionary material upon 
which to Instruct the class. -Have a missionary section In Sunday- 
the Sunday-school Hbrar)^ Keep It fresh every year. Have 
a brief review of one of the books each month before the 
school. Once a month have the men's Bible class follow a 
study of missions Instead of the regular lesson. Let the Files 
pastor keep a bound file of all missionary papers; so that 
Information seekers may use them. The Young People's 
Missionary Committee could profitably arrange and guard 
such a file. Have a good colored world map, showing the Ma 
distribution of the different religions on the wall; also pic- 
tures of prominent or locally Interesting missionaries. Ap- Committee 
point a strong Church missionary committee containing the 
presidents of societies and chairmen o^ committees Interested 
In this work and carefully arrange a propaganda for the 
different departments of the Church for the year. Pastors Books 
should steadily purchase the best books on missionary subjects 
and keep thoroughly posted. 

"Plan carefully for and persistently push the collection. Giving 
People are interested In and follow that to which they con- 
tribute. Endeavor to get something from every one. The 
Pilgrim Congregational Church, Cleveland, sends a letter 
to each new member a few days after he joins, soliciting a 
subscription to the benevolences. Few fail to respond. 
Some pastors enforce the Importance of missionary contrib- 
utors on receiving members. The Southern Presbyterian Collectors 
Church advised appointing a number of collectors In each 
Church and distributing the members among them to be 
seen and solicited. Though only three hundred of the three 
thousand congregations of this denomination adopted this 
plan, yet the total collection Increased enough to raise "the 
average gift per member of the entire denomination from 

287 



Workable Plans for Wide-Awake Churches 

Definite sixty ccots to over one dollar."* Choose definite objects for 
which to raise money. When Luther D. Wishard was secre- 
tary of the Forward Movement of the American Board, he 
issued a report showing that a hundred and fifty-five Churches 
thus contributing had increased their offerings to $74,300, 
while one hundred and fifty-five similarly situated and not 
employing this plan had actually decreased $6,967.t 

Be specific in getting subscriptions. Find out from the 
Missionary Society how much it costs a day or a w^ek or a 
month to keep a missionary or a native worker In the field. 
Fit 5'our apportionment to one or the other. Or fit It to a 
part of the time of one. Then apportion It Into days, weeks, 
and months. Get folks to promise to pay their salary for a 
day, week, or month; e. g., it costs $1,200 for a missionaryt 
This amounts to about $3.30 per day. Some will support 
him a day every month ; some a day a year, and possibly one 
or two will pay his salary one day a week through the year. 
This plan w^IU stir -up a great personal Interest and get the 
money. 
Prayer A pastor Can preach, pray, and train his people Into 
systematic giving. The power of prayer must not be for- 
gotten. A. J. Gordon was a missionary enthusiast, and had 
a Church with members of limited means. He strongly 
emphasized the spiritual side of giving. One year he an- 
nounced that he would not urge the subject of missions, 
but requested them to pray earnestly between then and 
the time announced to take the foreign missionary collection 
that "their offering might be according to the will of God." 
When the day came around ten thousand dollars was sub- 
scribed, Instead of five thousand dollars, the amount for the 
preceding year. J 

"Asa Otis's legacy of over a million Is directly traceable 



'■=The Pastor and Modern Missions, p 114. 

■f Ibid, p. 116, I The Hely Spirit in Missions, p. 123. 

288 



Methods for Arousing Missionary Interest 



to his constant reading of The Missionary Herald. Let this Missionary 

- ,, , . , . f . periodicals 

fact encourage all pastors to promote the circulation or mis- 
sionar}^ periodicals." 

This little incident was clipped from a reliable periodical, Tracts 
and tells its own story: 

THE TRACT THAT CHANGED FIVE HUNDRED YEARS. 
Early in 1819, while waiting to see a patient, a young physician 
in New York took up and read a tract on missions, which lay in 
the room where he sat. On reaching home he spoke to his wife of 
the question that had arisen in his mind. As a result they set out 
for Ceylon, and later India, as foreign missionaries. For thirty 
years the wife, and for thirty-six years the husband, labored among 
the heathen; and then went to their reward. Apart from what they 
did directly as missionaries, they left behind them seven sons and 
two daughters. Each of these sons married, and, with their wives 
and both sisters, gave themselves to the same mission work. Al- 
ready have several grandchildren of the first missionary become mis- 
sionaries in India. And thus far thirty of that family, the Scudders, 
have given five hundred and twenty-nine years to India missions. 

Tracts may, if sown heartily, be the seed that shall bear 
thirty, sixty, or one hundred fold. 

Plainfield, New Jersey, has a Woman's Missionary Read- Reading 
ing Circle whose members sign the following pledge : "We pledge 
promise that we will, if possible, read at least one volume 
of missionary travel, history, or biography each three months. 
We will try to read something on the subject of missions 
each week. We will pray daily for the success of mission- 
aries and their work, and we will contribute something each 
year to this cause." Valuable results would follow if all 
sorts of folk could be prevailed upon to sign such a pledge. 

The Young People's Department of the Missionary So- Young 
ciety of the Methodist Church has issued a valuable pam- programs 
phlet containing six splendid programs that can be carried out 
either by the Sunday-school or by a Young People's organ- 
ization. The part to be spoken by each person is printed 
19 289 



Workable Plans for Wide-Awake Churches 

and full instructions are given. The programs are so simple 
that all the Churches can utilize them. The subjects treated 
are as follows: ''Among the Tepees" (A Study of the 
American Indians), ''Daybreak in the Dark Continent" 
(A Study of Missions in Africa), "Letters from a Christian 
Chinese" (consists of four letters from a Chinese to show 
the product of work there), "In the land of the Zenana" 
(A study of the condition of woman in India), "Two signs 
in Japan" (showing the contrast between the once closed 
doors and the open now), "Great Words from Great Pio- 
neer Missionaries" (A brief study of a few home and foreign 
missionaries). The pamphlet can be ordered from 150 
Fifth Avenue, New York City. 
Fuel for No young people's organization should be without "Fuel 

missionary ^^^ Missionary Fires," by Belle M. Brain. Her sugges- 
tions are bright, new, and interesting, and at the same time 
she furnishes much of the material to carry them out. The 

Quotations Quotations she gives from missionaries can be profitably 
employed in all sorts of ways and services. Here are a few 
of them: "Let us advance upon our knees." — Joseph Hardy 
Neesima. "We are playing at missions." — Alexander Duff. 
"That land is henceforth my country which most needs the 
gospel." — Count Zinzendorf. "The lesson of the missionary 
Is the enchanter's wand." — Charles Darwin. "Facts are the 
fingers of God. To know the facts of modern missions is 
the necessary condition of intelligent interest." — A. T. Pier- 
son. "The prospect is as bright as the promises of God." — 
Adoniram Judson. "God buries His workmen, but He car- 
ries on His work. The medical missionary is a missionary 
and a half."— Robert Moffat. 
Study A mission-study class ought to be secured at any cost 
in every Church. Numbers are not the important thing. 
A small class organized in a large Church closed with only 
four young ladies besides three young men ; but three of these 



missions 



easons 
and facts 



Methods for Arousing Missionary Interest" 

expressed their determination to enter Christian work, and 
two consulted the pastor the following day about becoming 
deaconesses, and at once began making plans to attend the 
Kansas City Deaconess Training-school. The leader of the 
class, a bright and energetic young man, is planning to go 
as a missionary as soon as the way clears. The subject of ProGtabi. 
missions is fascinating. One can not start it without con- 
tinuing its study. Faith will be strengthened as spiritual 
victories are depicted. Sacrifice will be encouraged as the 
warmth of others' heroism is felt. Liberality of life and 
money will be insured as the rich, ripe, and broad fields open 
to the vision. The above-mentioned class started to raise 
thirty dollars for a native worker and soon had sixty dollars. 

Mission sermons and subjects are dry, frequently because r 
of laziness. It is easy to quote Scripture, to enforce the 
necessity of going, but men are not satisfied with mere com- 
mands. They want the reason. Jesus gave orders, but al- 
ways built upon reason's foundations. Illustrations are 
foolish and empty unless they clarify and back up facts. 

We have a right to awaken people by unique methods. Costumes 
Three or four people dressed in the costumes of as many 
countries and brought before the audience separately will 
furnish divisions for a sermon. People are eager to see' Foreign 
unusually appearing or rarely used things brought from 
foreign lands. A group of three or four idols or pictures 
drawn on the blackboard will enable one to enforce the 
pitiable beliefs and ignorance of native votaries. Utensils 
and weapons used in worship will enable a speaker to burn 
facts, concerning vile and dwarfing worship, into intent 
minds. 

Missions present a field of wide variety and of deep 
spirtuality for the weekly prayer-meeting. The subject is Dry 
considered dry by the selfish and the uninformed. Employ 
new methods. Here are a few: 

291 



Workable Plans for Wide-Awake Churches 



Answers WHtc E numbcr of answers to missionary questions on 

to be filled i^j^g of paper. Distribute them in the audience. At one or 
several places ask a question which one of these answers will 
fit, without designating it. Let the one who thinks their 
answer fits read it. Failure will impress a correct reply 
when it is given. Information will count and so be valued. 

Clippings Subscribe for a number of special periodicals, and let a 
missionary committee gather clippings of facts. Paste them 
in a book. Loan the book to folks preparing to take part 
on the programs. Hand the book on to the next committee. 
It will finally be very valuable. 
Selected Invite a dozen folks to give short talks on missions, 
speakers j^^^ thcm take the general subject, the same or different 
countries. Select speakers from different walks in life. 
Choose a witty and informed chairman. Let him introduce 
each speaker. Limit them to five minutes, the presiding 
officer to enforce the rule with a gavel or bell. 

Biography Dividc au interesting biography into periods, such as 
childhood, school-days, conversion, call to the field, etc. 
Assign them to different people. Have them read in order. 
Hall of fame Makc a Hst of five or six of the greatest missionaries. 
Let each one have a champion, telling why he or she was the 
greatest. Let any one add reasons. Elect a Hall of Fame 
collection of two or three by a ballot or popular vote of the 
audience. 
Newspaper Work up 3. ncwspapcr program. Appoint an editor. 
Let him choose the assistants and assign subjects. Choose 
a name. Instead of printing it, call up the individuals to 
read in the proper places. 
Curios * Collect a few curios connected with the subject or coun- 
try. No community is without them. An old idol with its 
history, power, and form of worship will make an impres- 



*This plan, and a few of those following, are reprinted from a pamphlet pub- 
lished several years ago by the author of this book. 



Methods for Arousing Missionary Interest 

sion. A pair of Chinese woman's shoes, and an account of 
their use, and woman's position in China will awaken people. 
A piece of money — worth 1/32 of a cent, for example — will 
reveal Chinese poverty.^ Paper money, to be burned at the 
grave, will picture their idea of the future life. An opium 
pipe will recall their slave-like habit. Pictures can be em- 
ployed in the same way. Object-lessons live. The eye- 
gates are the widest for driving home truth. All sorts of 
curios can be employed in this way. 

Announce the fact of a special program, without naming Special 
the subject to be considered. This will arouse, curiosity '"^°^"" 
and bring out some who would be frightened away by ''mis- 
sions." Prepare carefully so that interest is tense and con- 
stant. 

Make your Young People's Society responsible for one Different 
service. Treat the Sunday-school, the Woman's Foreign "'"^^'"^^ '°"* 
Missionary Society, and other organizations the same way. 
Have them follow each other during different months. A 
spirit of rivalry will add value to the meetings. Distribute 
different countries or subjects to them. Help them plan; 
at least on the start. 

Music can be a strong assistant. The spectacular may Repre 
seem to be foolish at times. Employed with wisdom, noth 
ing is more effective. Dress a soloist, duet, or a quartet in 
the costume of the country being considered. It would be 
better still if converted Chinese, Japanese, or some other 
foreign country folk could be secured to appear to talk or 
sing. It may be possible for limber-tongued young people 
to master a simple song in their language. Costumes may 
also be employed to enforce a paper describing the customs 
of a country. Young folks will take delight in and study 
to make their parts effective. 

Book reviews, if bright, will act like the sample salted Book 
peanuts which newsboys distribute. They will want more, '^^'"^' 

293 



sent 
natives 



Workable Plans for Wide-Awake Churches 

and so will read the book. It must not be a copy of the 
table of contents. A good one will contain a digested story. 
Every one likes to read an interesting biography; they will 
also listen to one. The story of Livingstone, or of J. G. 
Paton, or of Bishop Taylor, brightly and briefly told, will 
show the power and importance of missions, and create an 
appetite for more. 
Reporters Appoint missionary reporters. Choose a person with a 
nose for news. Give them a prominent place to report brief 
bits at the meetings, and at once appoint one for the next 
time. It might be well to let the audience vote on the best 
reporter after two or three meetings have been held. 
Pictures of CHp pictures of prominent missionaries and paste them 

nissionaries . -%-it • • i T~f i 

on a card. Write one or more questions, such as: I'lnd out 
all about this man; or all about his work; or all about the 
country and people where he works. Distribute the cards 
and expect an answer at the appointed time. The Mission- 
ary Society can and will help gather information. After 
the missionary program pass slips of paper and ask the fol- 
lowing questions : Do you believe in missions ? Why ? ( Ex- 
pect a reason for a no or yes answer.) What interested me 
in missions? How are they helpful to me? What should 
I do for them? Employ one or more. Collect the written 
answers and read them all at once. To get more thoroughly 
digested replies, they may be mailed or given out one week 
in advance. 
Missionary Sclcct 3. few missiouary Scripture texts. Write one and 
cripture ^ q^ggtion on a slip of paper. Distribute early in the meet- 
ing or some days before. Expect answers which are the 
fruit of thought; e. g.. Matt, xxviii, 19. How does this 
apply to those who remain at home? Acts i, 8. Can we 
have the full gift of the Holy Spirit and not believe in mis- 
sions ? 

Take time for sunlight and clouds. Have one person 
294 



Methods for Arousing Missionary Interest 



present all the discouraging things concerning mission work. Sunshine and 
Let another follow with all the encouragements obtainable. 



nannounced 



A surprise program will bring some desirable results, u 
One or two weeks before the meeting write a letter to eight 
or ten of your brightest people. Suggest six or eight parts 
to be taken on a missionary program, such as tell a story, 
sing a song, give a Bible reading or a recitation, write a 
poem or paper. Number the parts and ask them to designate 
which they will do. In this way each person will be likely 
to be exactly fitted. They must not tell what part they 
have. Do not announce it at the meeting. Give them num- 
bers at the service, and unannounced they can appear in the 
order of their numbers. 

Few people know how missionaries are sent out, how Board of 
they live, and how they are controlled. Ignorance along ^"'"'"''""^ 
this line loses support and arouses opposition. Describe In 
a paper the composition, methods, meeting times, and the 
missionary tests of the Church, General Missionary Com- 
mittee, or Board. It might be well to compare different 
denominations. Some Imagine that much money is used for 
expenses in collecting it. Others hold the notion that mis- 
sionaries receive large salaries and live extravagantly. The 
consecration and self-sacrifice of missionaries will touch sym- 
pathy and win support. 

Select interesting pictures from mission fields. Take for Explain 
example, pictures of a leper camp, or a Hindoo Idol, or a 
heathen temple, or a group of Chinese or Indian women. 
Distribute these to the brightest people. Tell them to in- 
vestigate, exhibit the picture, and tell all they can about the 
thing thus illustrated. Possibly they can secure some one 
to make a large copy of the picture on the blackboard or on 
paper. This would impress truth better. 

Cut up a good missionary story or a juicy report. Num- Stories 
ber the slips, distribute and call for them in the numbered 

295 



Workable Plans for Wide-Awake Churches 

order to be read. Open the prayer-meeting weekly by using 
ten or fifteen minutes in reading a section of a good mis- 
sionary book. Folks will come on time, and will want the 
book. 
Program Let thc Young People's Societies divide evenly with lead- 
ers. Pin bows of red and white ribbon upon them, and call 
them the Reds and Whites. Give them charge of two 
monthly prayer-meetings. Select three disinterested judges. 
Let them decide which conducts the best missionary meet- 
ing. Give the winner here five points. Permit them to take 
a collection and gather money. Give the side getting the 
most money five points. Add the figures and let the defeated 
side give the other a reception. 
Promise Gct folks to pledge themselves to give ten or twenty min- 
utes a day, or one hour a week, to the reading of missionary 
literature. Or at least get a promise to read two or three 
books during the year. They may through awakened interest 
read more. 
Readers for Purchasc a fcw copies of an eminently good tract. Dis- 
tribute them to workers, and let them report at the next 
missionary meeting how many they succeeded in getting to 
read it. 
Further A paper may be brightened by the writer transporting 
himself to the country considered, and using the first person. 

Scatter clippings or verses to all, so that no one is idle 
in the meeting. 

It will not be out of order to frequently take a collection 
at a missionary prayer-meeting. 

Special Programs 

Secure cheap copies of stirring biographies to sell from 
the pulpit or at the missionary meetings. 
Influence A few novel and magnetically attractive missionary pro- 
grams will draw attention, start Investigation, and frequently 

296 



Methods for Arousing Missionary Interest 

end in gaining earnest champions. The following will sug- 
gest others: 

Try a Junior doll contest. Secure two or three prizes Doii 
from near-by merchants. Appoint an evening when dolls ^^ ' '""* 
dressed to represent the various countries are to be exhibited. 
Limit the cost of doll and dress to fifty cents or one dollar. 
Stir interest by many references and by value of rewards. 
Permit any to enter. Let the judges make awards by con- 
sidering neatness, aptness, or uniqueness of doll costume. 
Serve refreshments. Have a bright program exhibiting, if 
possible, the child-life of some heathen country or countries. 
Charge an admission or take a silver offering. Sell the dolls. 

Mr. and Mrs. Uncle Sam can hold a reception to the "Unde 

Sam" 

unchristian nations of the world. Success will cost work, reception • 
but one strong and attractive program is worth many weak 
ones. Get pledges from a number of persons to costume. 
Others will catch the contagion. Introduce them, in order, 
to the host and hostess. Give a reward for the one best 
representing a country; it may be costly or only a simple 
designation for the evening. Plan an international program, 
arranging to have a number of the national airs sung. Be 
sure to impart missionary information. Display blackboard, 
paper or cloth copies of the different flags. Decorate ap- 
propriate booths, where articles peculiar to that country are 
on sale. Prepare a foreign menu, to be ordered as at a short 
order house. Print the name of the food in English letters, 
but not with the equivalerrt word. Make the best possible 
display of souvenirs or pictures or representative customs 
from heathen lands. 

A trip around the world will bring money and give in- Trip around 
formation. Details must be worked out. Select four houses 
to represent say, India, Africa, China, and the Philippines. 
Serve native refreshments; exhibit curios; explain customs, 
with programs and uniforms, and sell souvenirs at each 

297 



Workable Plans for Wide-Awake Churches 

place. Charge twenty-five or fifty cents for the round trip, 
including light refreshments at each place. If street cars 
are near, get the management to issue a special ticket for 
ten or fifteen cents, good to carry people to the four different 
houses. If this is impossible, arrange with owners of picnic 
wagons, or use farm wagons or hayracks to add to the fun. 
Get out a unique circular. Advertise an hour or hours, if 
a crowd is available. Let the program begin at this time 
at the first place. End it in time for this crowd to get to the 
next place in time for the program there. At the next hour 
begin the same program for the new party. Secure any out- 
side assistance available. This plan has secured many dol- 
lars, and has planted valuable truths in fruitful fields. 
Missionary Try the oft-suggested and effective missionary debate. 
Many folks believe only in Home missions. Take a subject 
like Resolved, that Home missions need our money more, 
and have a stronger demand upon us than Foreign missions. 
Appoint two good leaders and assistants. Advertise it. 
Urge volunteer speeches on both sides. Plan for a few to 
lead off. Limit them in time. At the close mark one col- 
lection basket Home missions and the other Foreign mis- 
sions. Let the one collecting the most money be declared 
the winner. This will drive folks to study, and will scatter 
information. 
Essay Have an essay contest. Limit by age or not as you 
choose. High school students will usually enter with zest. 
Purchase a medal to be given to the one who writes and 
delivers the best essay on some mission subject. Make it 
a person, a country, a station, or a truth. Or let it be open 
to all of them. Count thought, composition, and delivery. 
Advertise extensively. Name In a circular valuable books 
of Yeference. Print a few simple rules with the announce- 
ment. 

298 



contest 



Methods for Arousing Missionary Interest 



Young People's Societies and Sunday-schools in cities Suppiy 
and thickly-settled country communities can organize a sup- 
ply bureau. Let them collect all the souvenirs or Illustrative 
matter that is available. Furnish them a fund to purchase 
or rent costumes or idols. This collection can be taken from 
one place to another to be used in the missionary meetings 
until the round has been made. A good scrap-book could 
also be prepared by a district. 

The following Is from The Christian Endeavor World: 

An English Christian Endeavor Society has organized a mis- Missionary 
sionary exhibition. The interior of a Chinese house was shown, '' 
an Indian zenana, and a choir of Hindu children, consisting of 
some Juniors, together with other interesting scenes and objects from 
mission countries. Twenty-five dollars was raised, clear of expenses. 
In large numbers of our towns and cities similar missionary exhibits 
could be organized and carried out with little difficulty. 

The Topeka District of the Kansas Conference of the DisiHct ■ 
Methodist Episcopal Church recently put an effective plan 
Into use for arousing missionary interest. A great missionary 
convention had just been held at Kansas City, near their 
territory. On the following Sunday a committee arranged 
It so that every pastor visited two other Churches while 
two outside pastors spoke in his pulpit. In this way every 
Church in the district had two addresses and every pastor 
spoke in two different places on missions. The new voice, 
the possible use of the one strong missionary address in every 
minister's possession, made a strong presentation possible. 



299 



M 



isconcep- 
tion 



CHAPTER XIV. 

MISCELLANEOUS MATTERS. 

Church Membership — Clubs — Woman's 
Organizations. 

This book has already grown be3^ond its original pur- 
pose, but there yet remain a few general plans, not easily 
classified under any of the preceding chapters, which are 
grouped here. Many other things should doubtless have 
found place. It is not easy to choose an order of importance. 
Some things here mentioned might easily fill a large chapter. 

It is too bad that many good people and real disciples 
of Jesus are outside of the Church. They are frequently 
kept out by a misunderstanding of the purpose of the Church. 
They conceive of it as a grouping of perfect people, and they 
honestly count themselves unw^orthy of membership. Others 
have formed an unreal ideal, and vigorously convict folk as 
hypocrites who fall below this ideal. A few condemn the 
Church because a real rascal or tw^o have been discovered 
Definition in its Tanks. The Church is an organization of people striv- 
ing to follow Christ, glad to wear His name, and admit and 
manifest their dependence upon Him, and to be patient 
with, and helpful to, first those of the "household of faith," 
and then all needy ones. Every high-purposed, straight- 
dealing, clean-hearted person should be affiliated with it, 
even though they err and have faults. No good man has a 
good excuse for remaining out of the Church. If Jesus 

300 



Miscellaneous Matters 



could be patient with Judas, we can endure a rascal in our PaUent 
Church circle once in a while. If we create a spiritual 
atmosphere, like that at the first Communion Supper, the 
modern rascal will likely slink out ''into the night." Earnest 
conversation and the presentation of reasonable evidence will 
lead many "believers," who are outside the Church, to affil- 
iate w^th Christ's earthly body. 

When people enter into membership, every conceivable Notable 
plan that makes the enlistment in God's visible army a 
notable event ought to be employed. If the reception is 
chilly, the resolves will take shallow root if they are not 
frosted. First impressions are important. If a number are officials 
received at once, bring the official members inside the railing 
to follow you in greeting them. It does the officials good 
frequently to feel their responsibility by being called before 
the membership. Dr. W. A. Quayle, of St. James Meth- children 
odist Episcopal Church, Chicago, on receiving children into 
the Church has the Board by his side and the parents back 
of the children. 

Men need more encouragement than any one else. Two Men 
or three young men coming into the Church get inspiration ""'"'^^^^ 
when all the Christian and Church men in the audience are 
called to the front to greet each other and them. The ones 
left alone in the audience feel lonely, arni are often led to 
think and act from the impression made by this compacted 
body of believers. Each man In the forward-coming body 
Is also benefited by the move and the atmosphere Into which 
he comes. In the spring of 1905, Dr. C. L. Goodell, of Large groi 
Calvary Methodist Episcopal Church, New York City, took 
In by letter and on probation three hundred and sixty-four 
on one Sunday. The next year there were four hundred. 
This mass of folk makes an unforgettable Impression. Other 
pastors scatter the new members through the several Sun- 
days, believing that the repeated Impressions are most potent, 

301 



Workable Plans for Wide-Awake Churches 



Marchmg A rcccnt cdition of the New York Advocate has this bit 
smging^^ news from St. Mark's Methodist Episcopal Church, 
Washington, D. C, a congregation of colored people, with 
Rev. W. H. Brooks, D. D., as pastor: 

On Sunday evening, February nth, the converts, marked by 
white ribbon badges, and led by four of the older members, marched 
into the auditorium, where they were received by the congregation 
standing and singing, "Bringing in the Sheaves," and giving them 
the Chautauqua salute. The center tier of the auditorium was given 
up to them, two hundred and twenty-five being received into the 
Church. It was the evening of communion, and all the converts 
were served first after the Official Board. So affecting was this holy 
service that at its close twenty others came forward and professed 
faith in our Lord, and were received on probation. 

Oxford Bible A pastor who has received some hundreds of young men 
and women Into the Church within the last year presented 
to each probationer an Oxford Bible containing a *neatly 
printed sheet, of which the following Is a copy: 

This day ought to mark an epoch in your life. You have al- 
ready begun to follow Jesus, and to-day celebrates that great step, 
of which this book is to be a life-long reminder. 

Let me say two or three things to you, begging you to keep this 
little sheet in the Bible, where you may often see it. 

First. Remember that a Christian life grows like any other life, 
by care and nourishment. No one can be a good Christian without 
growing. We can not stand still in the Lord's army; we must either 
go forward or back. 

Second. It must be your habit to pray every day. No one can 
be a good Christian without praying. Those who pray most make 
the best Christians. 

Third. I wish you would promise God to read at least a few 
verses in His Word every day. You will learn to love this new 
Bible as you feed on its living words. 

Fourth. You will be expected, of course, to attend Church at 
least once on Sunday, and always to be present at the communion 
service on the first Sunday of each month. Also to attend prayer- 
meeting. 

302 



Miscellaneous Matters 



lass- 
meeting 



Fifth. It is also required of all probationers that they shall at- 
tend class-meeting. We have several new classes formed for our 

new probationers. Your class meets at at 

A regular record of attendance will be kept by the leader, and I 
shall thus kn6w how earnest yoxi are in your Christian life. 

Praying that you may grow in grace daily, and may walk with 
God as truly as Enoch did ; that you may "keep the faith," and be 
always an honor to our great Church, I am, 

Affectionately your minister, 

The old-fashioned class-meeting is not the exclusive prop- cb 
erty of the Methodist Church. It has been modernized and 
utilized in very many ways and places. It is to be deplored 
that testimony meetings are hard to secure. It is, how^ever, 
possible to have a real class-meeting for those vv^ho get help 
from such a service, if attention and purpose are put back 
of the effort. No pastor ought to miss reading "The Drill- 
master of Methodism," by C. L. Goodell. It w^ill prove 
stimulating and helpful for many other services. He urges 
the pastor to attend a testimony meetiag led by some one 
else for his ow^n sake ; he needs the personal religious culture 
that w^ill come from it ; he can also spur and enliven it. 

The follow^ing card has been used by the Lexington Ave- Work card 
nue Baptist Church of Chicago, the First Congregational 
Church of Denver, and by Grace Church vi^ith splendid re- 
sults. It is arranged as a return postal card, and mailed to 
the new members as soon as they join. The cards are num- 
bered, so that if they fail or prefer not to sign their names 
the card can be identified. Workers are discovered and 
people are assigned where they can do the best service: 

MUSTERING IN CARD. 

Grace Methodist Episcopal Church. "A Home-Like Church." 

"TO EVERY MAN HIS WORK." 

Dear Fellow Worker, — We greet you in the goodly company 

of our Church membership. I feel sure you want to be a "good 



Workable Plans for Wide-Awake Churches 



soldier" in God's army; hence you will want to get to work. A 
city pastor finds it difficult to meet his folks closely; I therefore send 
you a card naming the different departments of Church work. 
Mark your preference with a cross (X), and work will be assigned 
you. Joy comes only in service. When we are backing a Church 
we may claim a part in all its activities. Count me 

Always your friend, Christian F. Reisner. 

"Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it ivith thy might." 

No 

Attendance at 

Sunday Morning Service 

Sunday Evening Service 

Wednesday Prayer Service 

Class Meeting, Sunday, 9.45 A. M 

Sunday-school 

Teacher 

Pupil 

Epworth League 

Devotional Meeting 

Mission Study Class 

Committee Work 

Junior League 

Member 

Teacher 

Young Men's Club 

Member 

Committee Work 

Woman's Work 

Ladies' Aid 

Home Missionary Society 

Foreign Missionary Society 

Calling Direction of the Pastor 

Visiting Sick and Needy 

Choir Work 

Orchestra (Name Instrument) 

Pledge of per week for the financial support of the 

work of the Church. 



Miscellaneous Matters 



(May be paid monthly. Envelopes will be furnished) 

Name 

Address 

Date 

This card is numbered, and you may omit your name if desired. 
P. S. — Tear off this card and mail. 

Church Directory 

The Church Directory question is one to be settled In Local 
every local charge. There are no settled rules governing It. 

Christ Methodist Church, Denver, published the names 
and addresses of the members In the v^^eekly Church Bulle- 
tin regularly until all had been printed. Corrections and Corrected 
changed addresses were made, and one or more pages for the 
directory were then printed before the type were scattered. 
Two uses were thus made of the type without extra expense. 
City Churches have a difficult time In keeping track of 
members, and a local Church directory up-to-date Is almost city 
Impossible. In every large city there Is always some one """"'"^ 
with peculiar gifts for securing advertisements and arranging 
a directory. Why not encourage him or her to Issue a union 
directory for his denomination every quarter. All the 
Churches of that denomination would correct and send their 
lists in to him every three months, and thus all the members 
In the city would appear In one book. The lists could be 
stereotyped, and the changes would not then be costly. The 
wide and fresh circulation would make It a valuable adver- 
tising medium, and this source of Income would meet the 
expense. 

In a small town, possibly more than In the city, the Valuable in 
Church directory puts careless and Inconsistent members on 
their guard, since their names are publicly printed and people 
know their relationships and expect certain actions. 

The Brick Presbyterian Church, New York City, ap- 
points a person for each dally paper to watch It and make 
20 305 



Workable Plans for Wide-Awake Churches 



Historical clippings concerning the Church, to be sent to the Historical 

' ^'^'■^'^'■y Secretary, who pastes them In a scrap-book. They also print 

the names of home missionaries supported by the local 

Church at Christmas time in the Bulletin, so that people 

may send them gifts if they so desire. 

Denominational Papers 

"Paper" It IS Increasingly difficult to put religious papers Into the 
home. It must be done if spiritual growth Is Insured. A 
good program may be prepared with all the numbers repro- 
duced from one Church paper, official, in that territory. 
There are poems, editorials, personals, encouraging facts, 
descriptive and historical references, with spiritual medita- 
tions and high-toned illustrations and stories, from which 
selections can be made. To make it unique, the parts may 
be personified as in the old college days. Even the better 
advertisements, often valuably informing, may be reproduced. 
A morning service, with a "denominational paper" program 
following some such plan, and closing with a subscription 
canvass, would do untold good. Regular subscribers would 
read more carefully to find similarly fine articles. The feel- 
ing of duty need not be stirred to Increase the list, but merit 
would be recognized and win. 

Communion Service 

Sacred The communlon service may, of course, be over-empha- 
sized, but It is more easy of pass it over formally when it 
should be made sacred, memorable, and eye-opening. The 
old-fashioned perparatory service is still potent. A careful 
explanation of the purpose of the service should precede 
Announce, every administration. When the membership, especially 
those who seldom or Irregularly attend, receive a card an- 
nouncing it, they will arouse themselves to be present and 
to be ready worthily to receive the elements. In a city 

306 



Miscellaneous Matters 



Church frequent personal calls are impossible, and distance 
removes many ordinary reminders, making other memory 
arousers necessary. Dr. Kimball, of Trinidad, Colo., in- Collection 
closes a collection envelope each quarter for some special ^"''^"''^ 
cause, such as hospital, missions, Church debt, etc. 

Stereopticon, Passion Week 

Under the leadership of Rev. J. H. Houghton, rector Ministerial 
of St. Mark's Episcopal Church, and then president of the 
Ministerial Alliance, Denver, the latter body appointed a 
committee to arrange for a stereopticon exhibition of pic- 
tures on the public street during Passion vi^eek. Nearly four 
hundred slides, including one hundred highly-colored Tissot 
pictures, were borrowed. The lantern was placed in a 
second story window, while a canvas; screen was erected 
on a one-story building across the street. A pastor used Megaphone 
a megaphone out of the window, explaining the pictures. 
Hundreds of non-Church-goers respectfully and attentively 
viewed these impressive pictures. Every Church contribut- Canvas 
ing three dollars towards the fifty dollars expended, was 
permitted to have its Church likeness thrown on the can- 
vas, together with a list of regular or special services. 

New^ Year's Letters 

Few pastors now pass the opening days without a New- 
Year's letter. It takes great ingenuity and skill and pays 
well to put up striking and impressive greetings. Some years Generalship 
ago Lewis Albert Banks put out a brief letter with the like- 
ness of a ship ready to sail, and the following wording: 

40 Temple Street, 
Boston, January i, 1894. 
My Dear Friend, — Steadily the rising and falling of the tide 
marks off our days and numbers them into years. 

Again it creeps over the sands of life's lengthening coast, and 

307 



Workable Plans for Wide-Awake Churches 



soon shall sweep us out to sea upon a New-Year's Voyage. With 
all my heart I bid you "Godspeed." 

Whatever a brother's fellowship, a friend's comradeship, and 
a pastor's sincere devotion can do, I shall seek to do, to make your 
voyage rich in blessing. Sincerely yours, 

Louis Albert Banks. 

Dr. Quayie Df. W. A. Quaylc Issucs Icttcrs uniform in size and ap- 
pearance from year to year, and puts his message In original 
poetry, sweet with kindness and glorious with his own artis- 
tic beauty. 
Terse Thc letter ought always be terse, brief, characteristic, and 
spiritual. There Is a question about the advisability of 
printing the pastor's picture. It Is not always good form 
to do so. A fine picture of the church may accompany it. 
Directory Thc author, whllc pastor of a smaller Church where no 
directory was printed, one year attached the names of all 
connected with the Church. 
Birthday Whcu Rcv. Marcus D. Buell was dean of the Boston 
University School of Theology he yearly sent a letter of 
greeting and well-wishes to all of his former students at the 
time of their birthday anniversary. The copy was printed 
new every year, and was always tasteful In appearance and 
warm In Its sentiment. This cheered many a former ''theo- 
logue" out on the firing line and Increased loyalty to the 
College school and its ideals. College presidents might well imitate 
the plan. It may recall backsliders and arouse ambitions 
almost burled. It will certainly strengthen old school ties 
and keep enthusiasm for "alma mater" alive. 

The Labor Problem 

Improve- Thc labor employer does not have an altogether easy time 

"of it. Heavy problems strain and weary him. Often he is 

held down to a rutty round of duties that make the discovery 

308 



Miscellaneous Matters 



of new methods for the treatment of his workmen impossible. 
The alert pastor reads and meets improvements in factory 
conditions. He also finds out hindrances and facts in the 
laborer's condition that no one else discovers. Archbishop Christ 
Ireland said at the World's Fair in Chicago: "Is not Christ 
fitted to be the Great Arbitrator. He worked at the car- 
penter's bench. He is also King of kings and Lord of lords." 
Laws and Socialism will never solve the world's labor prob- 
lems. The minister of Jesus should be an arbitrator between 
employer and employee. Plain words and kindly suggestions 
will often avert trouble and work marked improvements. 
No Christian or even decent employer will angrily reject 
suggestions. 

Professor Barker in his recent book tells how onesaioons 
Central Western manufacturing establishment furnished 
warm coffee and a cozy room for the workmen to eat their 
lunches in, and as a result four near-by saloons went out of 
business. A Massachusetts employer found his workmen 
visiting an adjacent saloon, and to offset it put in a big 
refrigerator and stocked it with "soft" drinks. Near-by he 
placed a box and told the men to help themselves, and to put 
three cents in the box each time to pay the actual cost. 
Pastors should tell men about such improvements, and study 
out new ones that fit local conditions. 

One New England shoe town pastor planned reading strikers 
and game rooms, together with night schools and entertain- 
ment courses, to keep striking employees busy and away from 
the saloons and out of mischief, sure to grow out of idle 
loafing. As a result there was no disorder where before 
it was common, and the strike was settled much sooner. He Church 
gave all his Church building and strength to this one thing 
at the needed time. Another pastor opened his Church at Warm room 
the noon hour and had his ladies prepare hot coffee, at a 



309 



Workable Plans for Wide- Awake Churches 

winter season when the street was being prepared, and in- 
vited the workmen into the warm building to eat their lunch 
and drink coffee without cost. 

Artisans" The Hollywood Inn, in Yonkers, N. Y., according to 
Professor Barker, has a club building costing $250,000 and 
a membership of eleven hundred, and there is no liquor per- 
mitted, while a democratic air pervades the whole place. 
Sixty-five per cent of the members belong to the artisan class. 

No liquor The famous "Knife and Fork" Club, of Kansas City, that 
gives some of the most celebrated banquets in the land, allows 
Non-drinking no Hquors to be served. Rochester, N. Y., has a club in its 
Masonic Temple limited to a thousand members, where no 
stimulants are allowed and where meals are served to mem- 
bers and their acompanying friends for cost price. The mem- 
bership fee is twelve dollars a year, and this is used to keep 
up the quarters and meet any deficit. In this day when 
drinking clubs such as the *'Elks" and ''Eagles" thrive, we 
must have something to offset them. The Church need not 
always provide clubs, but may encourage the organization of 
self-supporting ones. Laboring men who make the saloon 
their club can be shown that, with even a fraction of the 
money they spend there, they may have a comfortable club 
of their own. In other words, the boarding young man 
must have some happy place without being compelled to live 
fast or join a drinking club. He need not be rich to do so. 
The club need not even be a religious organization. The 
Young Men's Christian Association can not meet all of the 
demands. 

Y. M. C. A. Health Farms 

Denver Thc Denver Young Men's Christian Association started 
a health farm on a thirty-four acre fruit ranch six miles 
from the city, donated by David Brothers, In May, 1903. 
Young men in the first, or curable, stages of consumption 

310 



Miscellaneous Matters 



from all parts of the country are admitted, boarded, and 
given medical attention for twenty-five dollars a month. 
Ten acres are used for vegetable gardens, five are occupied Tents 
vv^ith the tent houses, and the rest is planted in fruit trees. 
Seven cows, five horses, a bee colony, and dozens of chickens 
are kept on the place. There are forty-six tent cottages, 
thirt5^-one of them donated by different Young Men's Chris- 
tian Associations, two by corporations, eleven by private in- 
dividuals, one by Mt. Hermon School, and two by Churches. 

In every large city Church there are one or more young Churches 
men on whom the white plague has laid its hand. It is 
almost hopeless and useless to send them to stay in a Colo- 
rado lodging-house and among strangers. There are few 
desirable Sanitoriums run by private parties. On the Farm 
"Farm" the young men will have ideal care, favorable heal- 
ing conditions, and Christian fellowships. A Church can 
purchase and place a tent on the grounds for $175, which 
will insure its repair for a number of years. There are 
always more applications than places, but the Church or 
association furnishing a tent will be given preference for any 
one it may send, so that in this way there is always sure 
to be a place. 

The Health Farm and the numerous adjacent fruit farms Seif-support 
give partial employment to many, so that they are enabled 
to earn a l^rge share of their expenses. The out-door treat- 
ment is the only one with promise in it. 

Woman's Work 

We can never fully realize how important the woman's church's 
work is to the Church. Without her fine spirit and tact '" ^ ^ "^^^ 
as well as faithfulness and hard work, the Church would 
have a poor and weak standing in most communities. Her 
optimism and hopefulness carry things to success that would 
otherwise be given up in despair. The women were the last 



Workable Plans for Wide- Awake Churches 

to leave the crucified Christ, and the first to visit the tomb 
to minister to a corpse which suddenly spoke to them as a 
triumphant, risen King. It was John Wesley's mother who 
checked him when he would forbid the preaching by laymen. 
It was Mrs. Booth who really formed the plans for the Sal- 
vation Army, and helped carry them to success at the incep- 

Moiding tion of the work. How many unseen hands have worked 
in molding the male world leaders! The invalid wife of 
Wendell Phillips gave him courage and heart for all his 
great success. West said: 'A kiss from my mother made me 
a painter." The Missionary Herald declares that "nearly 
one-third of the missionaries of the American Board are the 
children of former missionaries of the Board." Did the 
Two cents mother's training bring this about ? The Women's Mis- 
sionary Societies of one denomination by "tw^o cents a 
week and a prayer" raised in one year a total of nearly a 
million dollars — $434,000 for Home work and $550,000 for 

Frontier Foreign work. How many frontier ministers would have 

been compelled to give up long ago, if it had not been for 

the lovingly-packed box of clothes and food sent by the 

"Sisters of Women's Societies ? Who can measure the unspeakable 

Charity 

good done by the various orders of the ''Sisters of Charity?" 
It is not too much to say that the great Roman heirarchy 
would have long ago lost its hold on the masses if it were 
not for the plodding, patient, loving, tender-hearted, sacri- 
ficing, black-gowned "Sister" of humanity. One needs only 
to lie ill in their hospitals, watch their tender care of babes, 
and realize the persistent attention which they give to the 
Business erHng, to discover the Christ spirit within. Some foolish 
^ " ^ folk say that women have no business ability. Hetty Green 
would vigorously deny this. The Sisters manage their own 
property, often running into the hundreds of thousands of 
dollars in value, in absolute independence. See them start 
with a few cents, and end with immense buildings and 



Miscellaneous Matters 



eaconess 
movement 



plants. Protestants are awakening, and the splendid dea- d 
coness movement, but a few years old in this country, is 
sweeping through every denomination. It is building and 
managing orphan asylums, old folk's homes, orphan's homes, 
and doing limitless city mission work. It is founding hos- 
pitals speedily everywhere. In the Methodist Church this 
is the result: '^Eighteen years ago the Methodist Church in 
America was, as such, caring for not a single sick person 
through her Christian nurses. Last year she cared for more 
than twenty thousand through her deaconess trained nurses.'* 
(Year-Book, 1906.) The training-schools are turning out 
scores of girls, after a two years' course of study, who become 
very competent pastor's assistants, at a cost of only two hun- 
dred dollars a year. 

How many hundreds and thousands, and perhaps mil- Ladies' Aid 
lions, of dollars have Ladies' Aid organizations of the 
Churches paid into God's treasury through the years ! Again 
and again they have made a Church building possible, or 
have saved it from the mortgage grip. Often the salary 
would remain unpaid, if it were not for their suppers, sales, 
and soliciting. All hail the Ladies' Aid ! 

There are scores of other organizations which can not Others 
be here named. There is scarcely a department of Church 
work where the "motherly" and "sisterly" hand is not felt. 

It is quite common to give the Women's Mission Soci- Social value 
eties charge of a Sunday service. The Ladies' Aid work is 
just as important. It is a good thing to spur this organiza- 
tion to work. Many people are aroused to interest in the 
Church, while others are made acquainted with and held 
to it by working even at a supper for it. Good company 
is important. All do not have extensive social privileges. 
Cheap neighborly loafing is harmful. Church societies, 
while not always made up of educated people, are usually 
composed of high-purposed and good-thinking folk. The 

313 



Workable Plans for Wide-Awake Churches 

Ladies' Aid Is not Important alone as a money-raiser. This 
may be the work that animates and fills their hands, but the 
deeper result is a mingling and sociability otherwise Impos- 
sible. It is Important to get every woman into some sort 
Public of active work. A public service presided over by the Ladies' 
service ^.^ prcsldettt, In which the work, aims, and opportunities 
are pictured by a varied program, would do great good. 
The pastor might preach a sermon on the subject. Or if 
only one service can be spared, let each president (Woman's 
Home and Woman's Foreign Missionary Societies and 
Ladles' Aid respectively) give short addresses in support of 
her organization. 
Monthly The Ladies' Aid of St. John's Methodist Episcopal 
luncheoc Church, South, of St. Louis, meets once a month, but 
assembles for the whole day, serving a noon luncheon and 
spending the time In sewing. They make a special effort 
to get the new members to attend, so that they may become 
Year-book acquainted. The Ladies' Aid Societies of the Church fre- 
quently print a common year-book, giving the names of all 
the officers of the different societies, with the places and times 
of meetings. A short, compact note, giving the purpose and 
plans of each, will make a profitable and interesting Intro- 
duction. If the names of the members are also printed, the 
added expense would be small, and an incentive would be 
Parsonage given to bccome a member. A committee appointed by the 
reception ^j^^gg socletles of Gracc Church gave a formal reception 
at the parsonage In the fall to all the women -of the Church. 
A neat invitation was sent out, tasteful decorations were put 
in place, and appropriate refreshments served. It was gen- 
erally attended, and enabled the ladies to know each other, 
and opened the way for them to solicit members later for 
the different societies. 

Every Church organization meeting must guard against 
wasting time. Gossipy sewing bees frequently do incalcu- 

3M 



Miscellaneous Matters 



lable harm. Idle tongues will find something to do. A Programs 
carefully prepared program for every ladies' meeting should" 
be arranged. This custom, of course, is general with mis- 
sionary organizations, but less common with the Aid Soci- 
eties. Invite a recently returned foreign traveler, the secre- Suggested 
tary of the local Associated Charities, a Woman SufiFrage 
leader, an expert in history or literature, a specialist In the 
preparation of food or the care of children, to give an ad- 
dress. Appoint a reporter for each month to bring In bright 
bits of news about women. Another time let each woman 
tell briefly about the best book read recently. Arrange a 
debate or a general discussion, with bright people to open it, 
about some llfe-throbbing question. A good secretary, by 
catching the best sentences and facts, would have a valuable 
and Interesting report to read at each meeting. 

Here Is an account given of the work of a Magazine Magazine 
Clubc Its work could be carried on in connection with the *"" 
*'Aid" meetings: 

"Every member was invited to give a brief outline of 
some article of current Interest that he had read during the 
month. Not all responded, but enough took part each time 
to make a very entertaining evening. It was Interesting to 
note how different ones would take a topic that particularly 
claimed their attention. For instance, the art student 
brought the current art of the day before the club. The 
musician spoke of a great musician who was very popular 
in this country. A young man who Is at present taking 
active part In affairs at Manila told of a recent visit to a 
camp in the West. Several related visits to points of Inter- 
est. Members were encouraged to take part. If only a few 
sentences were given." 

A Denver society has appointed a committee to look Memorial 
after supplying the pulpit with flowers. They began by 
giving the members of the Church an opportunity to choose 

315 



Workable Plans for Wide-Awake Churches 

a Sunday nearest the death anniversary of some dear one or 
friend, when he could furnish flowers as a memorial. A 
brief note, giving name and the religious facts about the re- 
membered one, is placed in the bulletin or read by the pas- 
tor. At the close of the service the flowers are sent to the 
sick. 

Cultivate Often aged saints who love flowers will find great de- 
""^^""^ light, at least during the summer, in raising them to decorate 
the pulpit. Four or six folk may be found to take a Sunday 
in order to furnish pulpit flowers. At Easter time, when 
money is scarce, they can easily be borrowed from plant 
lovers' w^indows. If carefully handled and watched while 
at Church they will receive no harm, and a beautiful display 
is insured. 

Produce The Ladies' Aid of the Quindaro Methodist Church, 
Kansas City, Kansas, which is situated in the suburbs, and 
has many gardeners and farmers as members, held a "Fair 
and Bazar" at their Church. They offered premiums for 
one peck of largest Irish potatoes; one peck largest sweet 
potatoes; one peck largest apples; one bushel corn on ear; 
and for largest pumpkin. This plan could be advantageously 
followed in a farming community to interest the people and 
secure funds. Often when by any unusual but legitimate 
means people are brought to the Church, they will start com- 
Farming and will become interested in more spiritual things. It 

specials ^Q^y i^g ^ £j-^g addition to the program if arrangements 
could be made with the State Agriculture department to send 
a specialist to lecture on the raising of corn or the treatment 
of stock. The city Churches undertake to help the house- 
keepers by cooking lectures and sanitary advice. Would it 
not be well for the country Churches to be just as helpful 
to their constituency? 

The women of the First Christian Church of Atchison, 
316 



Miscellaneous Matters 



Kansas, gave a "Cooked Goods' Exposition." Prizes werecooked 
offered for the best bread, the finest jelly, the most appetizing exhibition 
pies, etc., going through the whole range of cooked things. 
They had different divisions in their aw^ards. Some for 
children, some for old ladies, etc. It aroused great interest, 
and incidentally provided money, as the things were sold. 

In most cities the gas company conducts a cooking Cooking 
school, in order to demonstrate and encourage the use of 
their ranges. Grace Methodist Church, Denver, arranged 
with the local company to give a course of twelve lessons 
in the Church chapel, with two exhibitions a week. The 
gas company provided stove, demonstrators, and provisions 
without expense. They also furnished the money for adver- 
tising, the pastor preparing the "copy." All bills mentioned 
the Church. From two hundred and fifty to three hundred 
people from all parts of the city attended the demonstrations 
"egularly. Practical good was done for the neighborhood 
homes by improved cooking. It commanded attention to 
the Church and created a kindly feeling towards It. 

The Atchison, Kansas, Methodist Episcopal Church May 
gives every year a "May Festival" for three days, which has 
become the musical event of the community. All the local 
Churches unselfishly assist and furnish the best singers for 
the chorus. High-class soloists are brought In from the 
near-by cities. A College Glee Club was engaged one year, 
and a fine concert pipe organist another year. Six hundred 
and fifty tickets are sold at one dollar for the course, and 
something is left over every yean Many ordinary sized 
towns may follow this plan. The Ladles' Aid assists and 
shares in the profits. 

The Brick Presbyterian Church has a Central Woman's Central 
Body to receive the subscriptions of those who can not decide TodT 
which organization most needs their money. This Central 

317 



woman s 



Workable Plans for Wide- Awake Churches 

Body then distributes the fund as it is most needed. It also 
prints a list of different kinds of Church work that can be 
done, and then directs women to the department chosen. 

Church Many Churches now organize a Woman's Club among 
*"" ^ their members or for the benefit of their neighborhood. The 

Christ Christ Church, Cincinnati, Woman's Club had the follow- 
"'^'^ ing subjects presented to them by experts: "The Work of the 
Juvenile Court;" the City Physician told about "City 
Clinics." An art specialist described the "Art Museum." 
They also conduct a gymnasium class for women, as well as 
a dancing class. The home department engaged a lecturer 
to explain the human body, using charts. This was fol- 
lowed by a lecture on "tuberculosis," its cause and preventa- 
tives. A physician gave a practical talk on home-nursing, 

Health with demonstrations by a regular nurse. Most people are 
*^^ ignorant of the simple health laws. They will gladly re- 
ceive information. The American Federation of Labor re- 
cently issued a very valuable pamphlet on "Causes and Cure 
for Consumption," and circulated it all over the United 
States, and thereby did great good. "An ounce of preven- 
tion is better than a pound of cure." The Federation in big 
letters advised against the use of intoxicants. And yet some 
doctors prescribe whisky for consumptives. 

Drinking Fountains 

Sheldon A part of the money which Charles M. Sheldon cleared 
in running the Topeka Capitol as "Jesus would" was used 
in placing drinking fountains on prominent corners in the 
home city. Here is* a fine and open field for good. Pure, 
cool drinking water will often save people from intoxicants, 

fin front and will, when supplied, gain gratitude. Downtown 
Churches can cheaply arrange for cup and faucet in front of 
their building, and different Church organizations can ice 
it for a month at a time. A few united Churches may place 



Miscellaneous Matters 



one on a prominent corner of the city or town, inscribe their Prominent 
names, and take turns in caring for it. 

Church lawns and exteriors ought never be ugly and un- Grass plot 
kempt. It gives the impression of laziness, neglect, or decay. 
A pretty grass plot, well weeded, watered, and trimmed, 
affects the passers-by beneficially and prepares worshipers for 
the inside service. Request different Church organizations 
to care for the lawn one month at a time. Let an impartial 
committee^^of official men report at the c^ose of the summer 
what it considered the best appearing lawn. 



319 



Books Consulted. 

Books which have given suggestions and inspiration in 
compiling this volume: 

THE SUNDAY-SCHOOL. " 

1. "Pastoral Leadership of Sunday-school Forces." (A. F. Schauffler, 

D. D.) 

2. "The Teacher, the Child, and the Book." (A. F. Schauffler, 

D. D.) 

3. "The Modern Sunday-School." (Rev. John H. Vincent, D. D.) 

4. "Sunday-School Organization and Methods." (Rev. Chas. Roads, 

D. D.) 

5. "How to Conduct a Sunday-School." (Marion Lawrence.) 

6. "A Manual of Sunday-School Methods." (Rev. A. P. Foster. 

D. D.) 

7. "Modern Methods in Sunday-School Work." (Rev. Geo. White- 

field Mead, Ph. D.) 

8. "Pencil Points." (Rev. Robt. F. Y. Pierce, D. D.) 

9. "Sunday-School Problems." (Amos R. Wells.) 

WORK AMONG CHILDREN. 

1. "The Child as God's Child." (Chas. W. Rishell.) 

2. "The Child's Religious Life." (William G. Koons.) 

3. "Three Years with the Children." (Amos R. Wells.) 

4. "Boys of the Street." (Chas. Stelzle.) 

5. "Practical Hints on Junior League Work." (Rev. W. P. Fergu- 

son.) 

6. "Work and Workers." (Rev. Frederick S. Parkhurst.) 

SUNDAY NIGHT SERVICE. 

1. "The Sunday Night Service." (Wilbur Fletcher Sheridan.) 

2. "Seven Sorts of Successful Services." (Rev. Jas. L. Hill, D. D.) 

3. "Great Sinners of the Bible." (Rev. L. A. Banks, D. D.) 

320 



Books Consulted 



MEN AND THE CHURCH. 

1. "Why Men Do Not Go to Church." (Courtlandt Myers.) 

2. "A Young Man's Questions." (Robert E. Speer.) 

3. "The Church and the Young Man." (Frank Graves Cressy, 

Ph. D.) 

PERSONAL WORK. 

1. "Individual Work for Individuals." (H. Clay Trumbull.) 

2. "Fishing for Men." (Rev. J. Wilbur Chapman, D. D.) 

3. "Soul Winning." (Phidella P. Carroll.) 

4. "Success in Soul Winning." (M. T. Lamb.) 

5. "The Art of Soul Winning." (Rev. J. W. Mahood.) 

THE REVIVAL. 

1. "The Evangelistic Note." (Rev. W. F. Dawson, D. D.) 

2. "Revival and Missions." (Rev. J. Wilbur Chapman, D. D.) 

3. "How to Promote and Conduct a Successful Revival." (R. A. 

Torrey.) , 

4. "The Revival and the Pastor." (J. O. Peck, D. D.) 

5. "Hand Book of Revivals." (Rev. H. C. Fish, D. D.) 

6. "Outline Sermons and Plans for Evangelistic Work." (Rev. C. 

Perren, D. D.) 

7. "The Evangelistic Awakening." (Rev. W. F. Stewart, D. D.) 

MISSIONARY INTERESTS. 

1. "The Holy Spirit in Missions." (A. J. Gordon.) 

2. "The Crisis of Missions." (Rev, A. T. Pierson, D. D.) 

3. "The Pastor and Modern Missions." (Rev. John R. Mott.) 

4. "The Pastor's Missionary Manual." (Rev. James H. Mudge, 

D. D.) 

5. "The Missionary Spoke of the Epworth Wheel." (W. W. Cooper 

and F. S. Brockman.) 

6. "Fuel for Missionary Fires." (Belle M. Brain.) 

7. "Holding the Ropes." (Belle M. Brain.) 

GENERAL PLANS. 

1. "The Christian Pastor." (Washington Gladden.) 

2. "The Growing Pastor." (James G. K. McClure.) 

3. "How to be a Pastor." (Theodore L. Cuyler, D. D.) 

21 321 



Workable Plans for Wide-Awake Churches 



4. "Outlines of Pastoral Theology." (Rev. William Hastie, D. D.) 

5. "Yale Lectures on Preaching." (Henry Ward Beecher.) 

6. "The Cure of Souls." (John Watson.) 

7. "Lectures on Preaching." (Matthew Simpson.) 

8. "Parish Problems." (Washington Gladden.) 

9. "How to Build a Church." (Chas. L. Goodell.) 

10. "Capturing a Community for Christ." (C. E. Bradt.) 

11. "The Working Church." (Chas. F. Thwing.) 

12. "Problems of the Town Church." (George A. Miller, B. A.) 

13. "Modern Methods of Church Work." (Rev. George W. Mead, 
Ph. D.) 

14. "Methods of Church Work." (Sylvannus Stall.) 

15. "The Open Church for the Unchurched." (James E. McCul- 

loch.) 

16. "The Institutional Church." (E. Judson.) 

17. "The Growing Church." (Cleland B. McAfee.) 

18. "Young People's Prayer Meetings." (Rev. F. E. Clark.) 

19. "The Prayer Meeting and Its Improvement." (Rev. Lewis O. 
Thompson.) 

20. "The Saloon Problem and Social Reform." (John Marshall 
Baker, Ph. D.) 

21. "The Drillmaster of Methodism." (Chas. L. Goodell.) 

22. "The Funeral." (Joseph N. Greene.) 

23. "Modern Advertising." (Ernest E. Calkins and Ralph Holden.) 



122 



INDEX, 



A 

Absentee blanks used by Bush- 
wick Ave. Sunday-school .... 
Acquainted with young people's 

membership 

Advertising — 

A valuable assistant 

Attract the rushing throng. . 

Church attendance lost. The 

habit of 

Truth must back up 

Wesley a publicist 

Cost of secular 

In magazines 

Methods of church 

Billboards and posters. . . . 

Button with church picture 

"Display" ads 

Electric signs 

Hotel signs 

Invitations at hotels 

Magazine space 

Maps on cards 

Newspapers cultivated. . . . 

Notice on a church door. 
A unique 

Pastor directing 

Pastor's replies 

Pictures furnished papers. 

Postals mailed 

Pulpit notices 

Souvenir post cards 

Street signs 

Terse puttings 

Money for 

Objections to 

Cheapens religious appeal . 

Dignity spoiled 

Materialize the spiritual. . 
Reasons for 

Compel attention 

To-day's needs satisfied 

' Religious reminder 

The revival meeting 

The use of printer's ink in. . 

Blotters 

Church calendar 

Common-place words and 
printers 

Distribution of bills 



43 

111 

166 
166 

167 
166 
167 
170 
172 
170 
174 
178 
172 
174 
173 
178 
172 
178 
171 

179 
171 
170 
172 
173 
173 
178 
174 
171 
170 
167 
168 
168 
168 
168 
169 
169 
169 
255 
179 
195 
195 

179 
180 



Illustrations 180 

Reading announcement 

contest 195 

Small cards 194 

Special features and forms 180 
With electric signs — 

Aim of school 29 

A.ltar services 245 

"Alumni" Department for Sun- 
day-school 44 

American missions for the 

downtown masses 122 

Brass band and parade 123 

Cheap efforts 122 

"Church at work" 122 

"Institutional Church," The 122 
Appeals and giving syndicate. 

Extra 268 

Applause Sunday night 140 

"Apportionment" for the un- 

pledging 261 

Assistants — 

For midweek service 158 

Needed by pastors 12 

Attendance — 

Ballot for young people's 

meeting 102 

Buttons of unique design. ... 49 

Chairs filled 49 

Children to watch 48 

Committee of invitation and 

welcome 48 

"Cradle Roll" enlarged by 

whole school 48 

Divide class or pit against 

another 49 

Groups doubled 49 

High School girls canvass... 48 

Lists of possible pupils 48 

Membership committee from 

class 49 

Of the Sunday-school in- 
creased 47 

Rally Day public service. ... 47 

Steady efforts 47 

Telegraph blank 51 

Attention attracted by adver- 
tising 166 

Automobile to pastor 221 

Authority of the Church 12 



323 



Inde:> 



ex 



B 



Banks's, Dr. L. A., preludes. . . 140 
•Banquet for District and Local 

j^oung people officers 94 

Banquet, with noted speakers, 

for men 208 

Banquets for Sunday-school 

boys 60 

Beecher, H. W., and scholarship 216 
Beecher, H. W., on mid-week 

service 155 

Beecher, T. K., and Sunday- 
school collections 56 

Benevolence collections 273 

Christmas and "shares".... 274 
District pamphlet and agree- 
ment 276 

Locally published facts 277 

"Missionary company" 279 

Passion week self-denial.... 278 

Record for future use 274 

Separately or "omnibus"... 273 
Treasurer for "Benevolences" 274 
Benevolences in "United giv- 
ing' ' Syndicate 268 

Bible class study Sunday-school 

Lesson one week in advance. 26 
Bible explanation by expert to 

young 99 

Bible given new members 302 

Bible reading plan for children 78 

Book's influence on children. . . 61 

Books on subject scarce 15 

Books recommended by pastor, 

Good 161 

Books sifted carefullv 15 

"Boy Boosters"....'. 271 

Bovs' club constitution used by 

Chas. Stelzle 71 

Boys' club in squalid quarters. 76 

Boys gymnasium provided 78 

Boys Home, Byers 130 

Boys interested and profited. . . 78 
Communion service for boys 

and girls 82 

Gymnasium in prayer room. . 78 

Young married couples help . 83 
Boys' organizations of various 

kinds 74 

"Bovs Brigade," The 75 

"Knights of the Holy Grail" 78 

"Knights of King Arthur". . 75 
"Knights of the White 

Shield" 75 

"Ruskin" club of New 

Haven, The 76 

Boys' work 68 

"Boys of . the street" by 

Stelzle 68 

Expenses paid by the boys. . 70 
Lectures by experts and en- 
tertainments 69 

Religion in the club 70 

Religion needed to save them 68 

Room furnishings 70 



Street songs mixed with re- 
ligious 70 

Tin cans start gymnasium. . . 70 

Various plans to interest. ... 69 

Bradt's, Chas. E., experience. . 282 

Brass band for church work. . . 123 

Brooks's, Phillips, motto 9 

Brotherhood in Bethany Pres- 
byterian Church 200 

Brotherhood plans, The Parish 209 
Brotherhood, The Brick Church 211 

Bulletin make-up. Church 196 

Bulletin names, Church 196 

Bulletin, The Weekly Church.. 196 

Advertisements 196 

Front page. The 196 

Inside pages, various con- 
tents of 197 

Burial benefit societies in the 

Church 214 

Business men's luncheon, C. M. 
Alexander presents Christ at 255 



Cadet corps in Sunday-school. . 60 

Calendar for Church 195 

Calling and its value 216 

Beecher, H. W., among people 21Q 
Cadman's, S. Parkes, 500 ad- 
ditions 218 

Clean and neat 219 

Gossip never indulged 218 

Listening, dressing and nat- 
uralness 218 

McLaren's "concern," Ian.. 218 
Morris, G. K., "thorough- 
fares" 216 

Pastorate is the ' 'hearth- 
stone" (Peck) 217 

Prayer in the home 218 

Skill and character necessary 217 
Study and exclusiveness. The 216 

Sympathetic and open 217 

Tiring work 219 

"Too busy" 217 

Calling club in sections of the 

city 222 

Calling done by assistants 220 

Calling in designated divisions, 

Pastoral 222 

Calling in the Sundav-school. . 42 

Calling, The problem of 219 

Automobile furnished 221 

Calling cards on the street. . 224 

Card index 222 

"Centurion' ' 222 

Church entry. Dr. Banks in 

the 223 

Club and city sections 222 

Divisions for the pastor 222 

Introduction card 224 

Membership certificates 223 

Name cards in pews. Blank. . 224 
Pastors' replies, The different 219 



324 



Index 



Post-oflfice a valuable assist- 
ant, The 

Spiritual and proportioned. . 

Strangers, The addresses of. 

Calling with automobile 

Camera used by missionary. . . 
Canvass by High School girls 

for Sunday-school 

Canvass of teri'itory around 

church 

Catechism questions and an- 
swers 

Carmen, Rev. J. A., and white 

records 

Cards given on the streets. . . . 
Carpenter's hammer aroused lis- 
tener. Reference to a . 

Certificates for new pupils in 

Sunday-school 

Chapman's, Rev. J. Wilbur, re- 
vival preparation 

Characteristics of "Church" 

methods 

Child coal stealing ordered by 

parents 

Child conversion important. . . . 
Children and "story telling".. 

Children assigned tasks 

Children belong to God 

Children encouraged in gather- 
ing souvenirs 

Children influenced by parents 

and pastors 

Children into the Church, How 
to get the 

Church attendance empha- 
sized 

Decision day in Sunday-school 

Girls and boys choirs 

Gymnastics with Bible train- 
ing 

Meeting Friday afternoon. . . 

Monthly refreshments 

Part given in public worship 
service 

Personal association 

Short prelude sermons 

Training class at Sunday- 
school hour 

Children reading the Bible at 

home 

Children singing secular songs 

in Church 

Children trained for Church 

membership 

Children's "evening at home" 

by pastor 

"Children's Hour," a special 

week-day service 

Children's names learned by 

pastor , 

Children's reception by pastor. 
Children's reception by Sunday 

school 

Children's sermons preceding 

the regular 

Christ given credit 



221 
223 
223 
221 
211 

48 

253 



45 
224 

36 

50 

286 

12 

86 
61 
64 
65 
23 

62 

61 

65 

65 
65 
66 

67 
67 
67 

67 
66 
67 

65 

78 

71 

64 

62 

63 

61 
62 

63 

68 
12 



305 
305 
306 
179 
168 
15 



Church attendance habit. The. . 167 
Church attendance of Sunday- 
school pupils 50 

Attendance card . 52 

"Band" in Church of the 

Covenant 52 

Encouragements, Suggested. . 50 
Feeder of the Church and. 

ence and membership 50 

Rewards given for different 

periods 52 

Church, Authority of the 12 

Church boards won over to new 

plans 7 

Church Bulletins 196 

Church caring for strikers, The 309 

Chiirch directory 305 

City membership as a whole . 

Corrected in bulletin 

Historical secretary 

Church door. Unique notice on. 

Church empty and dilapidated . 

Churches employ assistants. . . . 

Dixon's (A. C.) fourteen paid 

workers 16 

Thwing, Prof., assistant for 

300 members 13 

Churches in the country 316 

Churches open all the time. . . . 173 
Church giving a "cooking 

school," The 317 

Church to keep something "go- 
ing on," The 172 

Church membership. (See Mem- 
bership.) 
Church officials to the front of 

the Church 301 

Church papers. (See Papers.) 
Church picture on buttons. . . . 178 
Church picture on souvenir 

cards 178 

Church "press agent" 171 

Church publicity. (See Adver- 
tising.) 
Church, Woman's work in the. 

(See Woman's work.) 
City covered with advertising 

"bills" 

City pastorates unwisely sought 

Classes organized, Sunday-school 

Class Meeting" encouraged 



194 
19 
26 

303 



Class names and mottoes 47 

Coal clubs 128 

Coe, Prof. G. A., and Dr. Star- 
buck on child conversion. ... 22 

Collection addresses ,. . 259 

Collection envelopes in pads. . . 261 
Collections made impressive by 

ushers 259 

College graduates in Leysian 

Mission 121 

"Comfortingly" preaching, Ian 

MacLaren on 18 

Committee meetings at noon 

lunch 210 

Committees, Wide reaching Sun- 
day-school 58 



325 



Index 



Concerts, Saturday night 118 

Communicants from the Sunday- 
school, Greeting Church 21 

Communion service. Announce- 
ment and collection envelope 

for the 306 

Communion service for boys 

and girls 82 

Conference Board of Control for 

Epworth League. 89 

Constitution for "boys" club.. 72 

Contest for missions, Essay. . . . 298 

Contest in missionary programs 296 
Contest in Sunday-school for 

best essay 39 

Contests between classes 49 

Conversation on religious topics 243 
Conversions sought as goal by 

the pastor 234 

Converts, Care of new 256 

Christian work 257 

Companions 257 

Early Church membership... 256 

Rules, Printed 256 

Social life furnished 256 

Testament and books 257 

Converts, Rules for new 256 

Converts, Suggestions from Dr. 

Chapman for new 257 

Cooking-school in Church 317 

Co-operation between superin- 
tendent and pastor 22 

Cordiality through entertain- 
ments and socials 225 

Cottage meetings 228 

Executive committee 227 

Novel socials, Invent 229 

Officers gather regularly 228 

Parsonage reception 229 

Pastor's methods of encour- 
agements. Various 225 

Roll-call, Annual 229 

Socials at least monthly 227 

Societies illustrate work.... 227 

Suppers and money making. . 230 

Supplant the forbidden 225 

Correspondence to gather testi- 
monies 163 

Cottage prayer and social meet- 
ing 228 

Country and city young people 

exchange 104 

Courtesy and persistency in re- 
vivals 246 

"Cradle Roll" of the Bushwick 

Avenue Sunday-school 58 

Birthday calls and books. ... 58 
Kindergarten room and pho- 
tographs 58 



Darwin impressed by missions. 283 
Dawson, W. J., turned into an 

evangelist 234 

Deaconess mo'^emeut, The 313 



Deaconesses or "Sisters" in 

England 119 

Decision made easy and en- 
forced. The Christian 254 

Deficit provided by "shares". . 267 
Dignity deeper than profession. 168 

Dime books 271 

Dinner before mid-week service 155 
Diploma for children Church 

members 64 

Directory for the Church. (See 

Church.) 
Directory for young people's 

societies 95 

Disorder and reverence 64 

Districts for Sunday-school call- 
ing 44 

Doctrines studied in mid-week 

service 161 

Downtown Churches associated 

with family Churches 116 

Downtown Churches needed. . . 116 
Downtown Churches showing 

success 116 

Churches related to. Family. 126 

Coffee-house supported 129 

Employment bureau 130 

Financial backing 124 

Hackmen and strikers 129 

Loan fund 129 

Markham Memorial Church 

report 127 

Morgan Chapel and its his- 
tory 125 

Ruggles Street and Mr. Ford 124 

Savings stamps 130 

St. George's, St. Bartholo- 
mew's, and Berkeley Tem- 
ple 123 

Working girls in Christ 

Church 126 

Downtown work and brotherly 
Christ 117 



Employers to improve labor 
conditions, Help 308 

Employment bureau connected 
with Sunday-school 59 

Entertainments and socials. . . . 225 

Entertainments for Sunday- 
school pupils 59 

Enthusiasm built on confidence 
shown in advertising 168 

Episcopal Church success in 
cities 116 

Essay contest for missions. . . . 298 

Essay contest in Sunday-school 
for lessons 39 

Evangelist, Every pastor may 
be an 235 



' ' Farm ' ' Churches ' ' Exhibi- 
tion' ' 

Fathers never minimized 



316 
9 



326 



Index 



Financial rights 12 

Flowers and their lessons in 

mid-week service 164 

Flowers for the pulpit 315 

Folk, Gov. J. W., closes sa- 
loons 133 

Funds of the Sunday-school... 55 

Birthday box 55 

Christmas treat, The 55 

General offerings 56 

Missionary boxes 56 

"Money" vs. "Pennies"... 55 

Monthly missionary offering. 57 

"Omitters' ' 56 

• Self-support vs. Church sup- 
port 55 

G 

Page 

"Giving" Syndicate, The 268 

Gladden 's, Dr. Washington, 

Sunday night themes 147 

Gladden, Rev. Washington.... 17 
Gospel required , in downtown 

Church, The 117 

Graded Sunday-schools 25 

Guest book for the Sunday- 
school • 58 

Gymnasium and physical cul- 
ture related to Sunday-school 59 



Hamill, Prof. H. M., advice to 

Sunday-school teachers 27 

Health Farm, The Y. M. C. A. 310 

Helpers paid by Churches 15 

Historical matter collected. . . . 306 
Home department of the Sun- 
day-school, The Bushwick 

Avenue 57 

Home work for Sunday-school 

pupils 37 

Lists of birds and titles. ... 37 

Questions prepared 37 

Daily readings certificate.... 37 
"Home State" Sunday meet- 
ings . . ? 144 

Houghton, Rev. J. H 7 

Hughes's, Hugh Price, preach- 
ing changed 234 

Hymn studies 163 



Industrial schools save "Juve- 
nile court" children 87 

Influence of town Churches, 

The wider 19 

Illustrations for the Sunday- 
school 36 

Fly paper 36 

"Habit" subtracted 36 

Lily bulb 37 

Pictures and stereoptzcons . . 36 

Thread and Samuel's call. . . 36 

Umbrella handles 36 



Irish Mystery party for men. . 203 
"Institutional Church,'' Origin 

of the term 122 

Insurance of Y. M. C. A. em- 
ployees. Life 215 



Junior societies 112 

Aged, Cheer and help the. . . 114 
Course of study with diploma 113 
Devotional meeting of Jun- 
iors, The 114 

Papers at depot 115 

Plans for "clearing house". 113 

Religious meeting. The Junior 114 

Workers course of study. ... 112 

Juvenile court, The 83 

Adults punished for contrib- 
uting to crime 85 

Atmosphere, Religious 83 

Central Presbyterian Church, 

New York, Men's Club of. 84 

Church order, lessons for... 83 

Church support 83 

Cultured homes for charges 

of the court 84 

Group homes proposed 87 

Industrial schools 87 

Sympathy powerful 83 



Koons, G. W., and stories for 
children 64 



Laborers saved from the saloon 310 
Late comers to Church seated. . 197 
Letters. (See New-Year's.) 
Letter writing in the Sunday- 
school 53 

Descriptive for class or 

school 53 

Occasions, Ripe and fruitful. 53 
Welcome from superintendent 53 
Welcomed by young and old. 53 
Library for Sunday-school 

teachers 33 

Library with "open shelf" in 

Sunday-school 58 

Lindsey, Judge, proposes 

' 'Group' ' homes 87 

Loan fund success in St. Bar- 
tholomew's Church 129 

London Children's Home, The. 130 
Luther's fear ^.roused by mis- 
sionary laxity 283 



MacLaren, "Ian," or John 

Watson 18 

Map on cards to show location 

of church 178 

"May Festival," The 317 

Mead, G. W., and revival 22 



327 



Ind 



ex 



Membership, Church 300 

Class meeting 303 

Definition of 303 

Impressive reception into... 301 
Children, Special notice to 301 
Marching and singing. ... 302 

Men given backing 301 

Officials to the front 301 

Working place card 303 

Membership of the Church and 

Sunday-school training. 22 

Membership of the whole city 

in a directory 305 

Membership put to work, The 

Church 303 

Men and evangelism 200 

Men and the social life 203 

Annual banquet with 500 

men 211 

Banquet, Grace Church 207 

"Brick" Church, Committees 

of men's club of the 211 

Irish mystery party. Invita- 
tions and refreshments for 

the . 203 

Minneapolis Friday supper, 

The ' 210 

Noon-day lunch for commit- 
tees 210 

Parish brotherhood. Plans of 

the 209 

Progressive supper 206 

Provide for it 203 

Social purity pledge 212 

Men and religion 200 

Alderson's, Rev. S. B., Sun- 
day afternoons 202 

Bethany Church Brotherhood 200 

Husbands of members 201 

Male meetings. Special 202 

Men's rally, A 203 

Neglected by religious work- 
ers 201 

' 'Prayer Circle" 202 

Men at lunch. Committees of. . 209 
Men given backing on joining 

the Church 301 

Men written letters, Prominent 143 

Men, Methods for caring 212 

Burial Club of Brick Church. 214 
Fraternal Aid of St. Mark . . 214 
Life insurance of Y. M. C. A. 

employees 215 

Pastors' replies 212 

Athlete and literary club. . 213 

Indoor ball 213 

Organized men's Bible 

class 213 

Tennis court 214 

Young men's club 212 

Sick and poor benefit organ- 
izations 214 

Men organize unreligious clubs 309 
Men, Personal work for (Inner 

circle) 209 

Men's club for Sunday nights. 137 
Men's Club, H. B. Pickard's.. 209 



Methods adapted to the, Church 15 

Methods to be necessary, . Re- 
plies show 14 

Mid-week prayer service re- 
ported for young people. ... 97 

Mid-week service difficulties... 152 

Culture needed. Its 152 

Spiritual state, not measured 

by 152 

Mid-week service preceded by 

dinner 155 

Mid-week service programs. . . . 159 

Benevolences, History of . . . . 160 

Books recommended 161 

Brevity enforced 159 

Brooklyn Tabernacle 160 

Laymen leaders 160 

Parents' service 160 

Prayers important 159 

Prominent people speak 161 

Temptations, Personal 161 

Mid-week service. (See 
Beecher.) 

Mid-week service. (See 
Moody.) 

Mid-week service subjects 161 

Answers written 163 

Doctrines treated. Vital 161 

Flowers and lessons 164 

Food and decorations 164 

Hymn studies 163 

Lord's prayer, The 162 

Mail utilized, The 163 

Optimistic reports 162 

Patriotic seasons 164 

Postal cards sent and re- 
ceived 163 

Question and answer method 162 
Refreshments and a social 

time 165 

Stenographer's report...... 165 

Testimony aids 162 

Vocations and classes 164 

Various suggestions 165 

Mid-week service successful 

plans 153 

Assistants to urge attendance 158 

Attendance record 158 

Beecher' s, H. W., lectures. . 155 

Brief address, A 153 

Church members, A promise 

from the 153 

Dinner at six, A._ 155 

Gladden 's, Washington, open- 
ing remarks 157 

Home Scripture published... 158 

Moody's, D. L., rules 156 

Names used 157 

Pastors fail. Moody says . 155 

People used, The 154 

Prepare carefully 154 

Scudder's, H. M., tried plans 157 

Mid-week service. Pastor sur- 
prised at 103 

Mid-week service to prepare for 

revival 250 



328 



Index 



Ministerial alliance during pas- 
sion week, Plan of the 

Missionaries personally known. 
Missionary biography divided 

into periods 

Missionary costumes and curios 

Missionary debate, A . 

Missionary likenesses and pic- 
tures 

Missionary mid-week service. . . 

Answers at appropriate place 

Biography into periods 

Book reviews 

Clippings gathered by a com- 
mittee 

Curios and talks 

Hall of fame 

Missionary Scripture 

Natives represented 

Newspaper, A prepared 

Pictures of missionaries.... 

Pictures to be explained. . . . 

Program contest, A 

Reading promised. Prescribed 

Reporters 

Speakers selected 

Special undescribed or un- 
named program 

Sunshine and clouds.. 

Tracts to be read 

Unannounced participants... 

Various suggestions 

Missionary money from the 

Sunday-school 

Missionary money gathered. . . 
Missionary program contest... 
Missionary programs for young 

people .• • • • 

Missionary pro^-ams, Special. . 

Doll exhibition 

Essay contest 

Ministers of a district ex- 
change pulpit, The. 

Missionary debate 

Missionary exhibit 

Reception to Mr. and Mrs. 
"Uncle Sam" 

Trip arouhd the world 

Missionary questions and an- 
swers 

Missionary quotations, A list of 
Missionary reading circle pledge 

Missionary reporters 

Missionary supported by men's 

club, A 

Missionary talks around curios 
Missions among foreigners, 

Home 

Missions, An educational cam- 
paign for 

Costumes and articles 

"Fuel for Missionary Fires" 

Mott's book. Suggestions 

from John R . . . . 

Choosing definite objects.. 

Collectors in Southern 

Presbyterian Church. . . 



307 
286 

292 
291 

298 

295 
292 
292 
292 
293 

292 
292 
292 
294 
293 
292 
294 
295 
296 
296 
294 
292 

293 
295 
296 
295 
296 

57 
287 
296 

289 
296 
297 
298 

299 
298 
299 

297 
297 

292 
290 
289 
294 

211 

292 

103 

284 
291 
290 

285 

288 

287 



Discourses, Great 285 

Files and books 287 

Fruitful Churches studied, 

Lessons from 284 

Maps and pictures 287 

Missionary periodicals.... 289 

New members 287 

Sermon themes 285 

Sunday-school publications 

in Canada 287 

Mudge's, Rev. James, sugges- 
tions for interest in mis- 
sions 286 

Missionaries personally 

known 286 

Money to invest 286 

Study the religions of the 

world 286 

Sunday-school class render 

program 286 

Texts for missionary ser- 
mons 285 

Programs for young people. . 289 
Reading circle pledge. Wo- 
man's 289 

Tract, Influence of a 289 

Missions in Sunday-school pub- 
lications 287 

Missions revive Wichita Church 282 
Missions, The spirit of power 

in 281 

Accompany revivals, History 

shows that they 283 

Church saved in Wichita, The 

First Presbyterian 282. 

Darwin and Terra-del-Fuego . 283 

Enlightened days 281 

Luther's fear 283 

Promise of Jesus, The 281 

Riis declaration, Jacob A... 281 
Money apportioned by Board, 

Tithing 264 

Money for all purposes in one 

fund 265 

Money for Church building and 

debts 269 

Money for deficit 267 

Money for missions 287 

Money gathering methods. Other 265 

Building and debt enterprises 268 
"Bits" of picture of 

church distributed 269 

Blackboard picture and 

cards 268 

"Boy Boosters" and dol- 
lars 271 

"Dime" books 271 

Improvement stock and 

prizes 271 

Proposed building on card. 269 

Thank-offering plan 269 

"Washington Ave" day.. 271 
Y. M C. A. cornerstone 

and boys 269 

Deficit with "shares," Pro- 
viding for 267 



329 



Index 



"Giving Syndicate" for 

extra appeals 268 

"United giving system".. 265 
Money making Church suppers. 230 
Money promised weekly, Cur- 
rent expense 260 

Addresses by laymen 260 

Demands on the pastor re- 
lated 260 

Envelopes in pads 261 

"Follow up" system 260 

New members, The 262 

Secretaries, Financial 262 

Statements regularly 262 

Subscription cards, Forms 

for 261 

Subscriptions collectable. ... 262 

Young people's pledge. 261 

Money raised by children 271 

Moody's rule for Sunday-school 

teachers holding a class.... 27 
Moody's, D. L., 17 rules for 

mid-week service 156 

Morgan Chapel, Boston 125 

Mother's social with practical 

lectures 58 

Music in the May Festival. . . . 317 

N 

New pupils, Treatment of. 

(See Sunday-school.) 

New plans universally valuable 19 

New-Year's letters. Forms for. 307 
Nursery conducted by young 

people 103 



Office hours. (See Pastor.) 

Old folks' service 231 

"Omnibus" benevolences 274 

Opening thought 28 

Optimism well grounded 12 

Origin of this book 7 

Outlined Sunday-school lesson. 35 



Papers, Program for Denomi- 
national Church 306 

Parade on street, Religious. . . . 121 
Parents held responsible by 

Juvenile courts 86 

Passion week self-denial 278 

Passion week stereopticon 307 

Pastoral work exhausting 219 

Pastoral work valuable 216 

Pastor and children. The 61 

Pastor and Sunday-school suc- 
cess . 21 

Pastor controlling the revival 

service. The . 249 

Pastor learns in Sunday-school, 

The 22 

Pastor noticing children's birth- 
days. The 62 

Pastor planning with young 
people, The 91 



Pastor recommending good 

books. The 161 

Pastor related. Demands on. . . 260 
Pastor studying advertising. 

The 171 

Pastor surprised at the mid- 
week service A 103 

Pastor training the children. 

The 64 

Pastors answering questions in 

response to letters 13 

Baptist list 14 

Christian list 14 

Congregational list 13 

Episcopalian list 14 

Methodist list 14 

Presbyterian list 13 

Pastors cultivate newspapers. . 171 

Pastor's heart-searching plan. . 236 
Pastor's hold on "husbands," 

The 201 

Pastors may be evangelistic 

(Cadman, Feck, Dawson) . . . 233 

Pastor's neatness, The 219 

Pastor's office hours 199 

Pastor's personal traits. The. . 17 

Authority and positiveness. . 17 

Friendly co-workers 18 

MacLaren's three improve- 
ments, Ian 18 

Manliness, a necessity 17 

Near to God, people and 

books 18 

Prize definition of Rev. J. 

Elmer Russell, The 18 

Spurgeon's "too much a min- 
ister' ' 17 

Washington Gladden' s speci- 
fications 17 

"Wearing a "garb" 17 

Pastor's prominence has been 

lessened, The 10 

Pastor's spiritual condition in 

revivals. The 240 

Pastor's vacation letters to 

Sunday-school, A 53 

Patriotic mid-week service.... 164 

Personal influence on cliildren. 65 
People put to work in revivals. 

The 247 

Personal work, H. C. Trum- 
bull's estimate of 244 

Personal workers' class 255 

Picnic plan pursued in Secre- 
tarv Lawrence's Sunday- 
school 60 

Picture calling cards for chil- 
dren 61 

Plans generally useful 19 

Plan's purpose, The Church. . . 8 

Plans tested by success. ...... 8 

Plans to fit community 8 

"Platform" meeting, A 230 

Pledge from new members, or 

work card 303 

Pledges for Church support, 

Getting the young people's. . 261 



330 



Ind 



ex 



Pledges secured by a "follow 

up' ' system 260 

"Prayer circle" for men 202 

Prayer, Dr. Schauffler recom- 
mends three 28 

Prayer for definite people 242 

Prayer in the home 218 

Prayer league and lists 251 

Prayer-meeting an index of the 

Church's condition, The. . . . 152 
Prayer-meeting. (See Mid- 

week Service.) 
Prayer preceding collection, 

The 259 

Prayer revives wavering faith. 246 

Prayers read and written 159 

Preaching of love by D. L. 

Moody, The 240 

Preview of Sunday-school les- 
son by stereopticon 57 

Primary Sunday-school depart- 
ment thorough course 23 

Progressive supper for men. . . 206 
Protestant Churches moving out 116 

Pulpit notices 173 

Pupils for Sunday-school se- 
cured from supplied lists. , . 48 



Questions from Sunday-school 
pupils 35 



Reception at parsonage 229 

Reception to "States" 105 

Refreshments Sunday nights.. . 138 

Regular attendance 42 

Absentees looked after 41 

A class spirit 42 

A superintendent's calls. ... 44 
Average for month — for pre- 
ceding year 42 

Best five classes 42 

Calls by teacher reported. . . 43 

Cadet messages — blanks used 43 
Central Presbyterian Church, 

Denver 42 

Class calling committee 43 

Cross and Crown system. ... 44 

Official visitor 43 

Report the best classes 42 

Telephone used to report. ... 42 
Use blackboard for "rec- 
ords' ' 41 

Religion cheapened by advertis- 
ing? Is 168 

Religion's use of, publicity. 
(See Advertising. j 

Reviewing the lesson 41 

Doors labeled "Drinkers".. 39 

Preparation necessary 41 

Stereopticon and pictures... 39 
Subjects treated by contest- 
ing essay 39 



Window panes and paper. . . 


38 


Revival dates, The best 


239 


Revival desire created 


250 


Revival meeting conducted by 




pastor 


233 


Revival meeting controlled by 




the pastor. The 


249 


Revival meeting groups 


239 


Revival meetings, Griving the 




invitation in 


245 


Neglect of prayer is danger- 




ous 


247 


Peck's, J. 0., advice 


246 


Plans of the author 


247 


Altar service, The 


248 


Men to the front 


249 


Program followed 


248 


Unconverted detained 


249 


Sheridan's, W. F., methods. . 


245 


Altar service. The 


245 


Bowed heads and workers. 


245 


Future decision. . 


246 


Revival meetings, Variant plans 




in 


249 


Calling every day 


255 


Canvass systematically 


253 


Card forms used 


254 


Class for personal workers. . 


255 


Decision urged 


254 


Luncheon with business men 


255 


Mid-week service and sub- 




jects, Preparatory 


250 


Music, The 


251 


Organizations aroused 


251 


Prayer league and pledge 




employed 


251 


Prayer lists.' 


251 


Preparatory sermons 


249 


Publicity methods 


255 


Questions for testimony. . . . 


254 


Revival of "righteousness" 






11 


Revival, Pastor's preparation 




for 


233 


Dawson, W. J., How became 




an evangelist 


234 


Essentials given by Dr. 




Mudge 


237 


Faith, vision and effort 




(Chapman) 


237 ^ 


Goal to be desired (Sheri- 




dan) 


236 


Heart searching for a week 




(Newell) 


236 


Hughes, Hugh Price, trans- 




formed 


284 


Pastors can all be used 




(Peck) 


235 


"Power" to be evangelist 




(Cadman) 


233 


Prayer, earnestness, industry 




(Fish) 


233 


Revival possible to every pastor 


232 


Revival preaching 


240 


Aim for results (Yatman) . . 


242 


Bank's, Dr. L. A., conclu- 




sions 


240 



331 



Index 



Moody's, D. L., "love" em- 
phasis 240 

Outside preachers diverting. 241 
Pastor's spiritual condition, 

The 240 

Personal eflPort 242 

Drummond's, Henry, stu- 
dent 244 

Prayer for definite cases. . 243 

Ready to ' 'move' ' 243 

Religious conversation.... 243 
Trumbull's, H. C, estimate 

of 244 

Using the people's appeal 

(Peck) 244 

Visiting a preparation. . . . 242 

Tender voice, A 241 

Thunder storm utilized 241 

Revival preparation details 

(Merchant) 238 

Revival preparation, Heart 

searching in 234 

Revival program for the week, 

A (Peck) 244 

Revival, The possibility of a.. 232 

Declarations of experts 232 

Pastors and evangelists 233 

Revival, Quickening methods 

for 237 

Chapman's, Dr., declaration. 238 

Detailed activities 238 

Letter advising preparation. 239 
Membership divided into 

groups 239 

Necessity of plans 237 

Revivals. (See Personal work.) 
Rewards for Sunday-school pu- 
pils raising money . 57 

Riis, Jacob A., concerning mis- 
sions 281 

Roll-call, The annual 229 

Rooms for Sunday-school 60 

Ruggles Street Church and Mr. 

Ford 124 

Rules for Sunday-school teach- 
ers' study (Thomas) 34 



Sabbath of Europe, Avoid the. 132 

Sacred subjects are made 
"common," The objections 
that ; 167 

Saloon money if saved will pro- 
vide club expenses 310 

Saloon put to rout, The 309 

Saloons into missions. The Eng- 
lish ttrn 120 

Saloons utilized 120 

Sanctity of the church building. 
The 116 

Science and theology have ad- 
vanced 10 

Scripture published for home 
study 158 

Secretary of the Sunday-school, 

The 53 



Bethany's report to parents. 54 

Details possible 54 

Quarterly report 54 

System of Bushwick Avenue 

Sunday-school 54 

Selection of teachers 25 

Advise Avith the pastor 25 

Cheerfulness and kindness 

necessary 27 

Committees to consider 26 

Crossness a weakness 27 

Importance enforced 26 

Pledge to be signed 26 

Quarterly report at Boise, 

Idaho 26 

Substitutes from Bible class. 26 
Teachers not always to hold 

the class (Moody) 27 

Trial first at "Ruggles 

Street' ' 26 

Use regular alternate Sunday 

attendants 26 

Self-denial for passion week. . . 278 
Sensational and popular sub- 
jects for sermons 145 

Sermon, Encouraging the Sun- 
day-school punils to listen to 

the .* 52 

Sermon preparation exhausts. . 134 
Sermon subjects for children. . 68 
Sernmn texts for missions.... 285 

"Sisters of Charity" 312 

Sleepy Church methods 166 

Sociability. (See Cordiality.) 
Sociability through special oc- 
casions 230 

Evening "at home" by the 

pastor 231 

Old folks' service 231 

Platform meeting 230 

Socials in the Church 225 

Socials, monthly and oftener. . 226 
Socials planned by an executive 

committee 227 

Social value of woman's organ- 
izations. The 313 

Songs of the street at chil- 
dren's hour 70 

Souvenir collections exhibited 

by children 62 

Speakers at a Church banquet, 

Noted 208 

Special Sunday-sahool program 

features 28 

Badge numbered 31 

Bible "yell" 30 

Doors closed 31 

Parents' day 30 

Thirty prompt tickets for a 

Bible 31 

Spiritual condition. (See Pas- 
tor.) 
Statements regularly sent to 

members 260 

Stelzle, Charles, "Boys of the 
Street" 68 



332 



Index 



Stereopticon in young people's 

meeting 101 

Strangers' addresses at church 

door, Getting 223 

Street, Cards given on the. . . . 224 
Street during passion week, 

Stereopticon on the 307 

Street meetings, Religious..,. 102 
"Strikers" cared for by the 

Church 309 

Strong's, Josiah, three religious 

emphases changing causes.. 11 
Study requiring all time. The. . 216 

Subscription card forms 261 

Subscriptions combined, Vari- 
ous Church 266 

Subjects for Sunday night 145 

Success brings opposition 8 

Success proves worthiness of 

plan 20 

Success shown by downtown 

Churches 116 

Success sure for the "Sower" 9 

Sunday closing 133 

Governor Folk proves possi- 
bility 133 

Mob attacks clergyman 132 

Sunday evening music. Special 138 

Choir in rear 139 

Congregational singing 139 

Orchestra and vested choir. . 139 
Songs selected by audience. . 139 
Sunday evening service, success 

with a 135 

Cards for the pews 138 

Circus ground service 138 

Detailed replies from pastors 135 
Men's Sunday evening clubs 137 
Sunday night, Special features 

for 140 

Applause permitted 140 

Citizens, Addressed by promi- 
nent 141 

Concerts by brass band, or- 
chestra and mandolin club 139 

Early vespers 141 

"Home state" services 144 

"Letters" of inquiry to lead- 
ing citizens 143 

Preludes, Dr. Banks's 140 

Testimony preface 144 

Young people's meeting. Sup- 
planted by 141 

Sunday night audience possible, 

A 150 

Sunday night citizens' addresses 141 
Sunday night service in theater 136 
Sunday night meetings in halls 136 
Sunday night. (See Sunday 
services.) 

Sunday night subjects 145 

Bible topics 150 

Doctrinal, holidays, seasons, 

home 145 

Gospel in fresh form 145 

Popular versus sensational. . 145 
Public occurrences utilized. . 146 



Sinners to be addressed. . . . 150 
Social questions. Dr. Gladden 

on 147 

Special groups invited 146 

Suggested in Dr. Sheridan's 
book. Topics by various 

pastors 147 

Vital questions 151 

Sunday not a gala day 132 

Sunday saloons closed in Kan- 
sas City '. . . . 133 

Sunday-school attendance se- 
cured by "Cross and Crown" 
system 44 

Sunday-school class organiza- 
tions 45 

Sunday-school class render mis- 
sionary program 286 

Sunday-school "class spirit".. 28 

Sunday-school disorder inexcus- 
able 26 

Sunday-school "Improvement 
Stock" 271 

Sunday-school letter writing. . . 53 

Sunday-school men's classes... 213 

Sunday-school method. Books 
on 22 

Sunday-school organized for 
best results, The 41 

Sunday-school publications and 
missions 287 

Sunday-school stenographer. . . 54 

Sunday-school teacher caring 
for Church members 63 

Sunday-school teachers ineffi- 
cienti 23 

Sunday-school to make Chris- 
tians, The 41 

Sunday-school, Treatment of 

new pupils in the 49 

Certificate of enrollment. ... 50 

Membership button 49 

Public recognition 49 

Social as reward, A 47 

Sunday services. Two 133 

Evangelistic efforts 135 

Symposium, Christian En- 
deavor World 134 

Superintendent of Sunday-school 

calling. The 44 

Superintendent and other Church 
work, The Sunday-school. ... 21 

Superintendents of Sunday- 
schools and salary 21 



Teacher's failure shown by dis- 
order 27 

Teachers in the Sunday-school, 
Selecting. (See Sunday- 

school.) 

Teachers' meetings, Sunday- 
school 31 

Banquet and summer plans. 33 

Books and curios 33 

Certificate for faithfulness. , 33 



333 



Index 



Commentaries and personal 

thoughts 34 

Executive committee arrange 

business at least monthly. 32 
Study, rules, Rev. W. H. G. 

Thomas's 34 

Supper served preceding 

prayer-meeting 32 

Treatment of lessons 32 

Teachers, of ability necessary.. 25 
Teachers "training" meetings. 26 

Teaching the lesson 34 

Attention secured 35 

Best thought written 35 

Illustrative outline 35 

Pupil conducting lesson 35 

Pupils asking questions 35 

Relate to Golden Text 34 

Telephone used to report at 

Sunday-school 42 

Temperance clubs possible.... 310 

Test for plans 20 

Testament given to young men, 

New 257 

Testimonies by correspondence 

for young people's meeting. . 99 
Testimonies from timid young 

people 100 

"Thank-offering" money-rais- 
ing plan 269 

Theater meeting, A monthly. . . 136 
Thinking independently and 

commentaries 34 

"Times" have changed 12 

Tithe encouraged 103 

Titheing Church, Advantages of 264 
Tithe-receiving Church, Wesley, 

Cincinnati, The 262 

Board apportions. The 264 

Conference for experience. 

Quarterly 264 

Non-tithers' subscriptions... 265 

Origin of the ' 'band' ' 263 

Preaching on the subject. . . 264 
Thoburn, Bishop, gives ad- 
vantages 264 

Toasts for Sunday-school ban- 
quet 33 

*'Town" training fits for the 

"city" 19 

Trolley ride to suburban 
Churches 104 



Unconverted detained after 
services 249 

V 

Vacation fund, Wesleyan 105 

Visits by ladies to Church 

members 225 

Voice of the preacher is potent 243 



W 

Warren (Pres.) class methods 

used in Sunday-school. ..... 35 

Washington's birthday social.. 107 
Wells, Prof., and teaching Sun- 
day-school lessons. 34 

Wesleyan city Church work. . . 117 

East London Mission, The. . 120 

Leysian Mission, The. ...... 121 

West London in St. James's 

Hall, The 118 

Assistants employed 119 

Concerts Saturday nights. 118 

Departments, Wide-reaching 119 

Evening service 118 

Park meetings 118 

Preaching and pastors. . . . 118 
' ' Sisters " or " deacon- 

esses' ' 119 

Wesley, John, a publicist . . . 167 

Wesley, John, an innovator. . . 8 
Wesley M. E. Church tithing 

system 262 

West London Mission 120 

"White record" used with 

' 'Cross and Crown' ' 45 

Woman's influence 311 

Woman's "Two cents a week" 312 
Woman's programs in Aid meet- 
ings to save waste 314 

Woman's work in the Church. 311 

Business ability 312 

"Central woman's body"... 317 

Church clubs, Sample...... 318 

Cooked goods' exhibition.... 317 

Cooking school 317 

Deaconess movement 313 

Indebtedness, The Church's. 311 

"Ladies' Aid" contributions 313 

Magazine club 315 

May festival 317 

Memorial flowers 315 

Noon luncheon. Monthly. ... 314 

Parsonage reception 314 

"Produce" exhibit 316 

Profitable programs, Sugges- 
tions for 315 

Public service, The 314 

"Sisters of Charity" 312 

Social value of organizations 313 

"Two cents a week" 312 

Year book, A 314 

Women's clubs in Churches... 318 

Y 

Yatman's C. H., revival meeting 

advice 242 

Y. M. C. A. Health farm 310 

Young people at the mid-week 

service 165 

Young people need careful or- 
ganization 89 

"Conference board, " The... 89 



334 



Index . 



District and national training 

schools 90 

Officers' meeting at parson- 
age 91 

Pastor and plans, The 91 

Young people of city and coun- 
try exchange visits 104 

Young people's city and district 

unions 92 

Banquet with distinguished 

guest 92 

City children to the country. 92 
Mimeograph, Commonly 

owned 92 

Neighborly social and devo- 
tional meetings 92 

Revivals and personal work- 
ers' classes 92 

Young people's committee meet- 
ings enlarged 95 

Young people's devotional meet- 
ing 96 

Ballot for attendance 102 

Bible explained by an expert 99 
Blank for monthly report. . . 101 

"Class meeting," A 97 

Collect timid testimonies. . . . 100 
Committee members distrib- 
ute tasks 100 

Committeemen responsible a 

month 97 

Correspondence testimonies. 99 
Explain passage read by an- 
other 98 

Hymn history assigned 98 

Leaders developed 96 

Personal workers' drill 99 

Reporter bringing mid-week 

testimonies 97 

Scripture quotations 98 

Secretary's record 99 

"Spelling match" for com- 
mitted Scripture 100 

Stereopticon to open service. 101 
Street meetings suggested. . . 102 
Subject outlined on black- 
board 98 

Sunshine contest 100 

Young people's "Hall" or 
' 'House' ' 95 



Young people's loyalty to Sun- 
day night service 141 

Young people's meeting leaders 96 

Young people's missionary pro- 
grams 289 

Young people's social life. The 104 

Animals on blackboard Ill 

Auction with beans and "ri- 
diculous" boxes 108 

Butterflies with paints Ill 

Calendar exhibition 107 

Commencement receptions. . . 105 

Contest by committees 104 

Forming words Ill 

Membership list Ill 

Names on the back 110 

"Older folk." The 110 

Reception to reappointed pas- 
tor, A 106 

Saucers, beans and matches. 110 

Signatures in note books. . . . Ill 

Society divided. The 104 

"State" receptions 105 

Vacation fund, Wesleyan. . . . 105 
Visit to suburban societies. . 104 
Washington's birthday so- 
cials 107 

"Yes" or "No" forfeit. .. . 110 

Young people's society officers 

and members 93 

Business meetings 95 

Committee meeting tea 94 

Delegates to district meetings 95 

Inauguration banquet 94 

Installation service 93 

Membership contest 94 

Membership directory 95 

Motto texts suggested 93 

News under designated de- 
partments 95 

Special building, A 95 

Young people's study classes., 102 

"Bible" text-book. The 102 

Missions a practical illustra- 
tion 103 

Personal workers 103 

"Tithe" encouragement 103 

Young people's training schools 90 



335 



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